Bücher der Provincia Hungariae Sanctae Mariae Ordinis Fratrum Minorum in der Mitte des 17. Jahrhunderts
Books of the Hungarian Province of the Order of the Holy Mary of the Friars Minor in the Mid-17th Century

Summary/Abstract: One of the 17th-century manuscripts of the Franciscan order in Hungary contains a hitherto unrecorded census, as evidenced by both Hungarian and European book sources: this is the list of the books of the Marian Province (Provincia Sanctae Mariae). In 1647, when the catalogue was compiled, there were already 19 convents in the diocese. These were the convents that were able to submit their books at the request of the provincial. The catalogue, which comprises almost 500 items, is of particular significance as it is the only inventory of the library of any Marian convent from this period that has survived. The 1647 book catalogue is of significant interest as it provides a comprehensive overview of the book supply of the members of the Order, the potential reading material, and the spirit of the collection. It is therefore considered to be one of the fundamental documents of the period in terms of literacy.

• Details
• Contents