bavarikon4URariora, reserve and parchment prints at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Rare and precious prints were already protected by separating them from the general association of book subjects in the 19th century.
At first the subject of "rariora" (Rar.) was limited to particularly important prints with an additional location signature cimelia (Cim.). These were part of the permanent exhibition from 1843 to 1914, which was first presented in the Zimeliensaal and from about 1898 in the Fürstensaal. Towards the end of the 19th century, the subject merely contained about 100 volumes.
The subject was extended with extremely rare and precious printed works, unique items and first editions of famous books at the beginning of the 20th century. Today the rariora subject comprises more than 4,300 printed volumes.
The range of content covers all areas of science and art. In addition to precious prints from the Early Modern period, it also contains a collection of leaflets from 1848. Chronologically, the spectrum ranges from the beginning of book printing, i.e. the age of the incunabula, to first editions from the first quarter of the 20th century, with the emphasis on printed products from the 15th and 16th centuries.
The subject has not been continued since 1990. It was replaced by the "Rare prints reserve" subject. No new signatures are assigned for this purpose. The prints retain their subject signature, which merely has the location designation "Res" added to it.
Books printed on parchment have always been among the library's bibliophile treasures. Today the collection of "Libri impressi membranacei (L.impr.membr.) contains over 130 titles. The focus is on prints from the 15th and 16th centuries. The time span covers 1457 to 1835. The foundation of this special subject dates back to the reorganisation by Martin Schrettinger in 1814.
In addition to outstanding works from the early days of book printing, luxury prints such as the Prayer Book of Maximilian I (2 L.impr.membr. 64) with the drawings in the margin by Albrecht Dürer and Lucas Cranach the Elder and the luxury edition of the Luther Bible (2 L.impr.membr. 21-1 and 2 L.impr.membr. 21-2) with four portraits, illuminated by Lucas Cranach the Younger, and with numerous coloured woodcuts are among the top pieces in this collection.
>> This collection is part of the holdings of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library).
To the collections by signature group of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek