Bibliotheca Herbergeriana

This publication presents the first reconstruction of an extensive early modern pastor’s library. From 1641 onwards, this library served not only the Church of the Kripplein Christi in Fraustadt/Wschowa (present-day Poland), but also functioned as a school and lending library, which was an unusual innovation for the time. Comprising more than 3 000 bibliographical units originating from Valerius Herberger the Elder (1562–1627) and his descendants, the ›Bibliotheca Herbergeriana‹ is one of the most extensive seventeenth-century book collections to have survived largely intact. Among those who used it was Andreas Gryphius during his school years in Fraustadt. The first volume presents an edition of the manuscript catalogue compiled for the Fraustadt library between 1646 and 1656. The second volume provides bibliographic records of the relevant printed works, following modern bibliographical standards and including current holdings. All printed works listed in the catalogue that are still extant from the church library and the Herberger family’s collection are taken into account, including Herbergeriana not recorded in the catalogue. Both volumes are linked by a coherent and accessible numbering system. A detailed afterword offers insights into the history of the collection. Indexes of authors/editors, places of printing, and locations of publishing companies make this work user-friendly.