Ungarische Reisende über europäische Bibliotheken im 16. und 17. Jahrhundert

Abstract

When one examines the descriptions of Hungarian travellers of the 16th–17th centuries, it can be stated that the young people – as the listed examples all bring to life the journeys of young people – were prepared for the trips. These young travellers were also accompanied by teachers, and they could read about the geography and people of the area to be visited in the libraries at home. It is also important that eruditive knowledge, complemented by the experience of the trip, reinforces the knowledge read. They also knew the importance of book publishing and the book trade, and we could cite more passages in this regard than in the case of libraries. The libraries they saw were admired, but usually left unmentioned. They must have visited the university library, yet we can hardly find any information about this in the letters and diaries sent to patrons and parents. In our study, we present and cite some examples, but we mention cases where the traveller also noticed the decoration of the library – paintings, sculptures – and furnishings. Globes are mentioned more often. At the end of the study, I mention that from the end of the 17th century we know of a university debate (dissertation) about libraries. Under the leadership of praesens Johann Georg Zihn, Adam Gruber, a citizen of Sopron, defended his thesis, Disputatio de bibliothecis (Leipzig, 1678). It is also the first library science work by an author from Hungary.