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12
Nov

Medieval Manuscripts of the National Library of the Czech Republic

More than four dozen digitised medieval manuscripts can be subdivided into several smaller thematically homogeneous groups. The first includes Czech-language Biblical manuscripts (six volumes under the shelf mark XVII, all from the 15th century). Liturgical manuscripts are represented by codices from St George’s Benedictine Monastery at Prague Castle (the manuscript XII D 11 was written upon the order of the abbess Kunigunde at the beginning of the 14th century; others comprise e.g. XII E 1, XIII C 1b, XIV D 21), but also from other monasteries (XIII C 11 from the Convent of the Poor Clares in Český Krumlov; Břevnov breviaries VI G 11 and XII A 22). Hagiographic literature is mainly represented by several manuscripts of Legenda Aurea by Jacobus de Voragine (XII D 19, XII E 14 and XIII B 11). Collections of sermons are likewise numerous – both by Czech authors (Tomášek of Strakonice, XII E 7a) and e.g. written on the commission of Czech monasteries (sermons of Bertrand de Turre in the manuscript XII D 6, which was ordered by the Chotěšov provost Petr I.). Most of the other codices contain theological literature, but one can also find works on grammar, law, natural sciences, a collection of liturgical formulae by Pietro della Vigna, etc.

12
Nov

Manuscripts and Printed Books from the Slavonic Library

The Slavonic Library has digitised several manuscripts and printed books from the 16th–18th centuries varied in both their language and content. Besides Old Church Slavonic, the languages include Polish, Croatian and Italian. One can find not only theological texts but also poems or an accounting book of an unknown Jew from Dubrovnik.

12
Nov

Digitised Documents of the National Medical Library

The National Medical Library, Prague, has made one manuscript and three early printed books or their binder’s volumes from its collections accessible. The manuscript T 361, written in the 17th/18th centuries, contains a copy of an unpreserved printed book Equine Medicine (Koňská lékařství). All printed books are written in German. Two binder’s volumes include medical works printed in northern Poland and Germany in the 17th century; the last volume was printed in Brno in 1776.

15
Oct

Codices from the Research Library in Olomouc

The Research Library in Olomouc has enriched its group of digitised manuscripts by another two. They were both made in the second half of the 15th century: the Cistercian missal M II 82 is written on parchment and decorated with drawn figural and ornamental initials; the New Testament M I 240 is made of paper.

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