COLLECTION OF ELZEVYRES IN MARTYNAS MAZVYDAS NATIONAL LIBRARY OF LITHUANIA

• Main Author: Misiuniene, Jadvyga
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vilnius University Press 2006-12-01
• Series: Knygotyra
• Subjects: Book history; Elzevieres; Book collection; Martynas Mazvydas National Library; Lithuania
• Online Access: http://www.leidykla.eu/fileadmin/Knygotyra/46/JADVYGA_MISIUNIENE.pdf

Elzevyres (Elzevier) – the dynasty of Netherland publishers and printers who worked from the end of the 16th century till the begining of the 18th century. During 129 years of their activity (1583–1712) they issued more than 2200 books and about 3000 scientific dissertations. The collection of elzevyres in Martynas Mazvydas National Library of Lithuania consists of 231 books (180 titles). All elzevyres kept in the collection are divided into two main groups: 1. True or authentic elzevyres (158 titles); 2. False elzevyres, i.e. imitations (21 title) and pseudoelzevyres (the only one contrafaction). True, or original, elzeviers are also divided into two groups: publications of Leiden (95 titles) and Amsterdam (63 titles) Elzevyres’ companies. Among Leiden elzevyres should be named Ebraicarum quaestionum by Johannes Drusius, sive Quaestionum ac responsium libri duo (1583) – the first elzevyre known; Acta synodi nationalis (1620) – the first book printed in the printing house of Isaak Elzevyre with the signette of the “Anchoret”; Athanae Batavae ... libri duo (1625) by Johannes van Meurs, distinguished for its illustrations, as well as a series of Little Republics and a thesis from theology by Juzef Milecky printed in 1710 by Abraham Elzevyre II, the last of Leiden Elzevyres, – the latest among elzevyres kept in Lithuania. Among Amsterdam elzevyres should be named Antiquae musicae auctores septem (1652), a digest prepared by Marcus Meibom, rare and valued edition; Corpus juris civilis (1663, in folio) – one of the best Amsterdam elzevyres, as well as Historia critica Veteris Testamentu, printed in 1681 in the printing house of Daniel Elzevyre’s widow, the last Amsterdam elzevyre known. With regard to origin, all elzevyres in the collection are divided into four main groups. The first proviniential group consists of Koenigsberg elzevyres – the books from the library of Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm I, Royal and university library, as well as the private library of FriedrichAugust Gotthold, the rector of Friedrich College. The second proviniential group – the books from the libraries of former Samogitian seminary and Samogitian chapter, based on books collection of reverend Jonas Chrizostomas Gintila, administrator of Samogitian diocese. The third and the fourth proviniential groups consist of elzevyres from the former libraries of Vilnius diocese seminary andVilnius evangelical reformers synod.