Senųjų lietuviškų knygų rinkinys Suomijos nacionalinėje bibliotekoje Helsinkyje

Abstract

Even though Lithuanian publications of Helsinki University Library (now – Finnish National Library) are recorded in bibliographical publications and are known to organisers of Lithuanian retrospective biography series A “Books in Lithuanian Language”, nevertheless these publications have not attracted a special attention of book researchers yet. Having analysed the catalogue of Lithuanian books, it became clear that according to the date of publication, the majority of publications (about 200) are press publications published after the press ban, i.e. after 1904 to 1917. The other part of the archive consists of Lithuanian books published before the press ban, i.e. these are books classified by Lithuanian book scientists according to the old periodization, and which usually can be referred to as monuments of books. All other old books of the collection are Lithuanian publications of 1816–1864. In the 19th and the beginning of the 20th c., a collection of Lithuanian books significant for their scope and content formed in the library of Helsinki university. The collection of old Lithuanian books is attributed to bigger collections, which can be found outside Lithuania. A more closer look at this collection reveals that it requires further research, since the publications, which are included into the category of rare publications, are significant, as well as the majority of publications are unique due to their perfect physical condition.