Cimelia Metropolitana. The History and Treasures of the Zagreb Archdeocese Library

Editor
Milan Pelc

Authors
Vladimir Magić
Milan Pelc
Mirna Abaffy

Reviewers
Mijo Korade
Dino Milinović

Translation
Tanja Trška

Proofreading and index
Aleksandra Vagner

Graphic design
Jurica Puhalović

Publishers
Institute of Art History – Prvostolni kaptol zagrebački, Zagreb, 2016

Publishing series and number
Studies and monographs of the Institute of Art History, book 47

Material description
273 pp.; ilustr.; 30 cm

ISBN: 978-953-7875-17-6

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The Library of the Archdiocese and the Cathedral Chapter of Zagreb, the Metropolitana or Metropolitan Library, is the largest, the most important and the richest historical library in Croatia. The history of the Metropolitan Library begins in the period of the foundation of the Diocese of Zagreb (1093/1094) and continues to the most recent times. Its holdings consist of around 60,000 volumes which make the Metropolitan Library the most diverse and the most valuable historical library in Croatia and in this part of Europe. Many of the 197 medieval manuscripts preserved in the Metropolitan Library are mentioned in the oldest inventory of Zagreb cathedral compiled in the late 14th century. Manuscripts represent the Library's most valuable collection, followed by the collection of incunabula, the earliest printed books, which enumerates 257 items and is thus the largest in Croatia. The Metropolitan Library holdings include the library of Slovenian polyhistor Johann Weichard Valvasor comprising some 1530 volumes with 2630 titles. Special part of the Library is the famous Valvasor’s Collection of Prints and Drawings of the Zagreb Archdiocese with around 7300 prints and drawings, mostly from the 17th century. The Library also preserves a number of volumes from the former library of the Jesuit College, partly incorporated in the original holdings of today’s National and University Library in Zagreb. Finally, a valuable addition to the Metropolitan Library holdings in the second half of the 20th century was the library of Đuro Kokša (1922–1998), the auxiliary bishop of Zagreb, lover and collector of the arts. The volumes of the Metropolitan Library, their illuminations, illustrations and other artistic and decorative elements reflect a thousand years of Croatian cultural history.

With this monograph, the Metropolitan Library, today housed in the Croatian State Archives, is splendidly presented to Croatian and international cultural audience as Croatia's first-class cultural monument. In the first chapter, Library’s long-time director Rev. Vladimir Magić portrays the history of the Library and the diversity of its collections. In the second chapter, Milan Pelc opens Metropolitana’s book treasures: selected manuscripts, incunabula, books printed between the 16th and the 19th century and books from the croatica collection – especially important for Croatian cultural and historical identity. Special attention was given to their valuable visual elements – illuminations, illustrations and decorations of individual books. In the third chapter, Mirna Abaffy gives an insight into Valvasor’s Collection of Prints and Drawings of the Zagreb Archdiocese through selected items preserved in the collection. The present monograph provides the reader in word and image with historical knowledge and visual evidence about the Metropolitan Library and its holdings.

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Contents

Vladimir Magić

5
The Metropolitan Library over the Centuries

16
The Metropolitan Library Holdings

16
Manuscripts

19
Incunabula

22
16th Century Books

25
Valvasor's Library and 17th Century Books

29
Books from the Jesuit College in the Metropolitan Library

31
Books and Manuscripts from the 18th to the 20th Century

37
The Library of Bishop Đuro Kokša

40
Old Book Bindings

43
Library Theft

Milan Pelc

45
Cimelia Metropolitana – 1000 Years of Book Culture in Croatia

49
Manuscripts

98
Incunabula

116
Books Printed Between The 16th And The 19th Century

182
Croatica

Mirna Abaffy

209
Valvasor's Collection of Prints and Drawings of the Zagreb Archdiocese

212
Holdings Ofvalvasor's Collection of Prints and Drawings

231
The Systematic Study and Cataloguing of Valvasor's Collection of Prints and Drawings

233
The Cultural Value of Valvasor's Collection of Prints and Drawings

234
Selected Works

259
Bibliography

267
Index of persons

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Rasprodano.