Books and book collections of nobility of przemysl land in 18th centry

Abstract

Goal of the research. To examine private noble libraries in the Przemyśl Land of the Ruthenian Voivodeship during the 18th century by analyzing the collective profile of their owners and the composition of their book collections. Methodology is based on the principles of historicism, system analysis, and objective reconstruction of the past. Scientific novelty. This research provides a comprehensive analysis of book collections owned by the nobility in the Przemyśl Land of the Ruthenian Voivodeship during the 18th century. Existing Ukrainian and Polish historiographical works have traditionally focused on ecclesiastical libraries, particularly monastic collections, or emphasized the cultural and intellectual preferences of the magnate class. The libraries of the ordinary nobility of the Ruthenian Voivodeship have not been studied. Conclusions. Posthumous inventories of movable property of the nobility in the Przemyśl Land of the 18th century demonstrate the presence of books and entire book collections among household items. Typically, these collections belonged to local middleclass nobility and educated individuals from the ordinary nobility seeking social advancement. Thus, in the 18th century, books were not a rarity known only to church circles and wealthy magnate nobility, but became an everyday attribute of cultural life for middle-class and ordinary nobility. The sizes of book collections varied from one or two volumes to 50 books, but most contained from 10 to 20 books. Liturgical and theological publications dominated these collections. Belles-lettres, primarily Polish translations of European works, were also present. Calendars - analogous to contemporary mass literature - were particularly popular. Additionally, legal, medical, and household management texts frequently appeared in these inventories.