Pseudo-Bonaventura s.: Żywot wszechmocnego Syna Bożego..., 1522, title page

Biblia, 1551, title page

Biblia, 1551, beginning of the chapter 6. of the Gospel according to St. Matthew

Pseudo-Bonaventura s.: Żywot Wszechmocnego Syna Bożego, Pana Jezu Krysta [autor wersji polskiej Baltazar Opeć]. Kraków : nakł. Hieronim Wietor, 5 V 1522. 2o

Polish version of the meditative-apocryphal Latin text Meditationes vitae Christi, attributed to St. Bonaventura. According to what we now know, the author of this work was probably the 14th-century Italian, John of Cavola, a Franciscan monk.

This book is the oldest Polish language book which has survived to our times. It is also acknowledged to be the most beautiful Polish printed work from the first half of the 16th century. Its refined typography is due to the creative skills of Cracow printer Hieronim Wietor. This book uses characteristic German decorative font and contains 36 excellent full-page woodcuts made by famous painter and engraver Hans Schaufelein (his monogram can be found on pages 112 and 119). Prints illustrate the life of Jesus and were adopted from the 1507 Nurnberg edition of Speculum passionis Domini nostri Jesu Christi. Also beautiful Renaissance initials add value to the Cracow edition.

Our copy was acquired by the Library in the 19th century and is one of the best preserved of five copies located in Poland. The title page is a facsimile from the 19th century.

Between pages 105 and 106 is bound a print depicting Christ (signed "Sandart"). The print itself derives from an anonymus work of the 17th Century.

Provenance:
1. Ego sum possesor huius libri Mathias Boskowicz...[the rest cut out] - inscription on page 117, 16 or 17th century
2. Liber Joannis... Crac[oviae] - blurred inscription on page [a2], 17th century
3. Biblioteka Główna w Warszawie - stamp
Binding: cardboard, brown leather; decorated only in blind, goldleaf on the spine - 19th century.

Biblia - Test. Novum, Pol. : Ewangelia... wedle Mateusza ¶w., z greckiego... na polski przełożona [przez Stanisława Murzynowskiego, wyd. Jan Seklucjan] . - Stanisław Murzynowski: Ortographia polska.

The first Polish translation of the canonical text of the Gospel According to St. Matthew was printed at the initiative of Jan Seklucjan, the Reformation writer and Lutheran preacher.

The translator, Stanisław Murzynowski, added his work Ortographia which contains an innovative plan for establishing rules of spelling and grammar for the Polish language. Warsaw University Library's copy, the only one remaining in Polish holdings, is especially precious because of its individual characteristics. It was presented by the editor, Jan Seklucjan, to the printer and Lutheran minister, Jan Malecki-Sandecki and became a review copy. Malecki made critical notes and corrections (with red and black ink) at the request of the Prussian prince Albrecht I. The book was sent to Albrecht I and remained in the Prince's library until the beginning of the 19th century. In the second half of the 19th century, due to misterious circumstances it was found in the Warsaw University Library collection.

Provenance:
1. Domi[n]o Joanni Malecio Joan[nes] Sekluci[an]us. Lege et candido pectore iudica. - inscription on the title page, 16th century
2. [Biblioteka ks. Albrechta Pruskiego- Królewiec]
3. Biblioteka Główna w Warszawie - stamp
Binding: cardboard, brown leather; decorated only in blind, goldleaf on the spine - 19th century.