AZ ORSZÁGOS SZÉCHÉNYI KÖNYVTÁR ÉVKÖNYVE 1965-1966. Budapest (1967)

II. Az Országos Széchényi Könyvtár gyűjteményeinek anyagából - Soltész Zoltánné: XVI. századi könyvgyűjtők kötetei a gyöngyösi műemlékkönyvtár antikva-gyűjteményében - The books of 16th century bibliophils in the ancient book collection of the historic library in Gyöngyös

The books oj 16 th century bibliophils in the ancient book collection oj the historic library in Gyöngyös E. SOLTÉSZ The historic library preserves the stock of 16 000 volumes of the Franciscan monastery founded in Gyöngyös in the 14th century. Its importance from the viewpoint of the history of culture is determined by the fact that while in other libraries the collection dating from the Middle Ages had been destroyed in the course of the centuries past, the library of Gyöngyös preserved besides its own material medieval books of other Franciscan libraries and civil collectors. During the Turkish occupation form 1526 till 1699 life stopped in several Franciscan monasteries: in 1525 there were 73 monasteries, in 1565 only 10.The members of the dissolved monasteries fled to Gyöngyös or Szeged together with their book collections. That is the reason for the survival among the 16th century prints of 97 volumes with possessor indication of 43 Franciscans. (See the books in the list arranged to names and in the list of possessors No. 1. respectively). The most important Franciscan bibliophil in the 16th century was Bálint Nádasdi, Salvatorian: in 24 volumes 28 prints of his survived. Nádasdi attended the University of Paris and besides Latin and Greek he mastered Hebrew too. He bought a part of his books with finely ornamented leather binding also in Paris and sometimes he had his name gilded in them as the custom of the contemporary bibliophils had been. In 1559 Nádasdi was appointed leader of the monastery of Galgóc which could not ensure even the most important necessaries for its members. Under these troubled circumstances Nádasdi could not continue collecting books. According to the 16th century Franciscan records the educated leaders of the order were diligent bibliophils and book collectors and supplied also their fellow members with the necessary works. Owing to their vow of poverty the Franciscans did not regard even the books their private property. That is why they emphasized in their notes that they possessed the books only „ad usum." A survey is given in the list of possessors No. II. about the volumes which had belonged to laymen and came into the holdings of the library in Gyöngyös. Among the 74 secular book collectors there are such well-known bibliophils as Miklós Oláh, Archbishop of Esztergom, János Henckel, Queen Maria's (widow of Lajos II.) court chaplain of humanistic education. The value of their books which got into the library of Gyöngyös is increased by the fact that very few prints survived in Hungary from their once famous libraries. A few years after the publication most of the books were in the hands of readers in Hungary. Book-collecting did not cease in spite of the Turkish devastations and occupation. On the contrary: according to possessor records in Gyöngyös, in the 16th century it spread gradually not only among prelates and humanists but also among much poorer, so called mendicant friars, bourgeois and the gentry. 148