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15
Aug

Manuscripts from the Collections of the Cistercian Abbey in Vyšší Brod

In 2017, the first two manuscripts from the library of the monastery in Vyšší Brod were digitised. This monastery was founded by Vok of Rožmberk in 1259 and its library still contains works from its entire development, including the codices that were brought by the first monks from the mother monastery in Wilhering, Austria. Information on the content of the library at the end of the 13th century is provided by the incomplete list of books that is recorded in one of the Vyšší Brod codices and that is one of the oldest preserved in the Czech lands. Despite the number of manuscripts covering the entire existence of the monastery, which ranks the Vyšší Brod collection among exceptional ones in Bohemia, the medieval as well as later history of the library has only been devoted limited attention in scientific literature. From the monastic library, access has been provided to two manuscripts, shelf marks XXXVII and 8b. The first one is an illuminated prayer book from the Franco-Flemish area or Burgundy, written in the first half of the 15th century. The second codex is mainly known to German Studies scholars. It is the so-called Hohenfurter Liederbuch (Vyšší Brod Songbook), which was written around the middle or after the middle of the 15th century, contains 81 German spiritual songs and is one of the most important works of medieval German literature deposited in the Czech Republic.

15
Aug

An Utraquist Gradual and Hymnal from the Regional Museum in Teplice

From the collections of the Regional Museum in Teplice, an Utraquist gradual from 1560 (MS 1) and a hymnal from 1566 (MS 2) have been digitised. Both manuscripts were procured for the literati brotherhood at the parish church of St John the Baptist in Teplice and were written in the Prague workshop of Jan Táborský from Klokotská Hora. They were decorated by the leading illuminators of the time: Fabián Puléř and Matouš Ornys of Lindperk. Unlike other, similar works, both manuscripts still contain also texts and depictions related to John Hus and his feast day.

15
Aug

The Manuscripts and Early Printed Books from the Museum of the Jindřichův Hradec Region

In 2017, the Museum of the Jindřichův Hradec region provided access to a total of 16 manuscripts and early printed books from its collections. The manuscripts comprise a smaller part of the collection – they include works of medicine, wedding speeches and prophecies written in the 18th century. On the border between the two groups, there is an album amicorum of Johann Hegenmüller, who had his Stammbuch records, including the accompanying decoration, written in the printed book Emblematum liber by Andrea Alciato. With a few exceptions, the early printed books represent the Czech- and German-language production of printers in Jindřichův Hradec in the 18th century. Some of the digitised volumes come from the property of the provost of Jindřichův Hradec Vojtěch Juhn (1779–1843).

12
Jun

The Manuscripts and Printed Books from the Regional Museum in Louny

In 2017, the Regional Museum in Louny digitised six manuscripts and three early printed books. In terms of its content, the set of manuscripts is homogeneous – they are all Czech-language prayer books (exceptionally complemented by Germans sections) from the second half of the 18th century and the first third of the 19th century; some of them even contain the exact date of origin and personal notes by their owners. According to the records available, all the printed books (shelf marks S 117, S 5275 and S 7724) are single copies.

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