Bookbindings in the Public Collections of Denmark. Vol. I. The Royal Library, Copenhagen

134 Pages·1938·62.044 MB·English

by  Anker Kyster

McGILL U IVER ITY LIBRARY
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BOOKBINDINGS IN DENMARK
I

BOOKBINDINGS
IN THE PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
OF DENMARK
VOL. I
THE ROYAL LIBRARY
COPENHAGEN
73y
ANKER KYSTER
I .
I
LEVIN & MUNKSGAARD, EJNAR MUNKSGAARD
COPENHAGEN
1938
Z270 I4B6 folio v . l McLennan
Kyster , Anker,
Bookbindings in the public
collections of Denmark
71882979
PRINTED AT THE EXPENSE OF
THE NY CARLSBERG FOUNDATION.
EDITION LIMITED TO
5o COPIES
2
CONTENTS
An Historical Note. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 7
Preface and Notes .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. I o
Illustrations with text .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. I 3
XIIth AND XIIIth CENTURIES
Denmark nos 3, 4.
XVth CENTURY
Germany nos 5, 7, 8.
Italy nos 3 3- 42, 57.
Low Countries no I 2.
Poland no 6.
XVIth CENTURY
Denmark nos 19- 22, 28, 30.
England no 14.
France nos II, s8- 66, 68-74·
Germany nos 23- 27, 29.
Italy nos 43- s6.
Low Countries nos 9, IO, I 3, I s-r8.
Oriental no 3 I.
XVIIthCENTURY
England nos 67, 8o, 81.
France nos 7 s- 77·
Italy nos 78, 79·
XVIIIth CENTURY
Denmark nos I, 2, 8 3- 86.
England nos 82 92, lOO.
France nos 88, 89, 93·
Oriental no 32.
Spain no 87.
XIXth CENTURY
Denmark nos 96- 99.
England nos 94, I 00.
France nos 90, 91, 95, IOI.
Bibliographical List . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. I 2 3
Index ..................................................... I24
• •• • ~ ...... ~. • ••••••••• ' :· _ _, •••••• • ·~ ·- • • • • • • • •• • •• .... _:__. • • - ' • • •• ,. uo • • ' • • • • • • • • • •
of authority_a nd the following year he disposed building in the grounds of his palace in Copen
of his library, consisting of 8840 printed books hagen, consisted of about I 38,ooo volumes in
and Io68 manuscripts. As a token of the royal cluding manuscripts and incunabula; by his will
displeasure the Royal Library purchased no he left all manuscripts and all books printed
thing at the auction sale, but private connois prior to the year I 53 0 to the Royal Library, on
seurs acquired rich treasures there; and in the the condition that they should for ever remain
course of time the most valuable parts of Rost together in one place. In this manner the Royal
gaard's library eventually came to the Royal Library came into possession of 6 I 59 pre-I 5 30
Library from those sources. books and 4I 54 manuscripts, 400 of which
As a collector of books, however, Rostgaard were on vellum (Latin, French and Italian). In
was surpassed by Count Otto Thott of Gaun0, addition, about 6o,ooo volumes were purchased
who died in I 78 5; he owned the largest pri for the Library at the auction.
vate library ever got together in Denmark. Even The library of the historian P. F. Suhm was
as a young man he was so zealous and ener also a universal one on a large scale, but of a
getic a collector on his travels in Germany, somewhat different character. Whereas Thott
Holland, England and France that it gave rise collected valuable manuscripts and incunabula,
to a good deal of envy in Paris, and there was Suhm arranged his collection as a reference
a demand that rarities which for preference library in aid of the scientific and literary in
should remain in the country should be repur terests which he cultivated throughout his life.
chased from him, against his will if need be. These interests were manifold; history, theo
However, what he acquired in those days per logy, economy, politics, aesthetics and literary
ished in the great Copenhagen :fire of I728, on criticism were well within his horizon; it was
which occasion besides numbers of private his desire to have convenient access to the litera
collections, the University Library founded in ture on all these and similar subjects in what
I482 was consumed by the flames. Nothing ever European language it existed, and so he
daunted he began again, and a rich marriage purchased it. At his death in 1798 his library
gave him the means of satisfying his passion. totalled about Ioo,ooo volumes and it was pur
There was not a book auction in Copenhagen chased en bloc for the Royal Library. Thott
of any importance, and scarcely any abroad, at was his own librarian, but Suhm had a staff of
which he was not a bidder, and, as price was library people in his service, for he did not keep
no object with him, he secured almost every his books for his own use alone. At a time
thing he fancied. When the famous classical when the Royal Library was not open to the
philologist Havercamp of Leiden died, Thott public, being reserved for the King, and the
purchased large parts of his library in I 7 42; in University Library was restricted in its use to
I 7 4 3 he acquired valuable manuscripts, especi a certain class of society, Suhm, like the Grand
ally Old French, after the historian Ludwig of Seigneur he was in this and all things, opened
Halle; and of the Harley Library, whose collec his collection free of charge to all who sought
tion of manuscripts was bequeathed to the Brit knowledge, instruction and enlightenment, re
ish Museum,he bought sooincunabulain I745· gardless of age, sex and station; books were lent
At his death the library, which had its own out on a receipt, and men of science were able
8