Łukasz Łukawski

Old prints and manuscripts related to Józef Wybicki in the Scientific Library of the PAAS and the PAS in Cracow collections

In relation to the announcement of the Polish Sejm made on 14 October 2021 that one of the patrons of the year 2022 shall be Józef Wybicki (1747–1822), a politician, poet, play-writer and the author of the Polish national anthem, we decided to make a review of the keepsakes after him gathered in the Special Collections of our Library. As a result of a broad query, one hand-written letter has been found, written by Wybicki to Hugon Kołłątaj on 2 June 1810. The other nine groups of manuscripts contain either copies of Wybicki’s works or notes and texts related to him, gathered by 19th and 20th c. researchers, and finally an interesting motion to set up a monument of Wybicki, funded by private contributors, submitted in 1904 by Stanisław Witkiewicz. These scriptures are not consistent with each other as they are pieces of some greater manuscript legacies. Eight of them come from different donors, two were purchased in 1958–1960 in antiquarian bookshops in Cracow. They are of marginal significance as far as the research of Wybicki’s achievements is concerned.

What was much more interesting, were the results of an old prints query. The Wybicki’s literary legacy is represented by thirteen 18th c. titles and three from the beginning of 19th c., bearing twenty two shelf marks. This vast amount of keepsakes related to Józef Wybicki results from Cyprian Walewski’s testamentary legacy, from which sixteen shelf marks come. Some of the political scriptures assigned to Wybicki have been published anonymously, therefore the question of their authorship remains open. The overview of publications is presented in chronological order. First three works come from 1870s and are related to the beginnings of Wybicki’s political activity to support king Stanisław August, by counsellor Andrzej Zamoyski’s side, and discusses the necessity of social and political changes in Poland. As this project failed, in year to come Wybicki backed out from politics and devoted himself mostly to writing plays, which are represented by one comedy and three operas. The works from the last decade of 18th c. show Józef Wybicki as a person who was active wherever the issues most significant for Poland were decided. These are political scriptures from the period of the Four-Year Sejm, an appeal issued in Warsaw during the Kościuszko uprising and a brochure in French issued in exile in Paris after the Third Partition of Poland. Wybicki’s lesser known interests are represented by a geography textbook published in 1811, containing one of the first descriptions of the geography and economy of the Duchy of Warsaw. The last writing to be discussed includes Wybicki’s views on political systems, which was published three years before his death. Although these sixteen pieces constitute only a part of Wybicki’s work, they seem to well represent its character as well as illustrate the author’s interests and his patriotic engagement.

Key words: The Scientific Library of the PAAS and the PAS in Cracow, Józef Wybicki, manuscripts, old prints, library collections, political scriptures, plays, correspondence

Manuscripts related to Jan Matejko in the Scientific Library of the PAAS and PAS collection

Due to the 185^th anniversary of Jan Matejko’s birth and 130^th of his death, to appreciate his artistic work as well as patriotic and social activity, the Senat of the Republic of Poland in its resolution of 16 November 2022 announced the year 2023 the Year of Jan Matejko. The celebrations of the Year of Jan Matejko create a perfect opportunity for an overview and familiarisation with keepsakes related to the Cracovian painter kept in the manuscripts collection of the Scientific Library of the PAAS and the PAS in Kra- kow. Among the most precious ones are the painter’s sketches from the album titled The Dead and Alive by a romantic poet Teofil Lenartowicz as well as letters written by Jan Matejko: three to the editorial board of “Kłosy” weekly magazine included in the collection of autographs gathered by Cyprian Walewski and two included in Stanisław Tomkowicz’s correspondence, related to artistic activity, financial matters as well as the artist’s health issues. Among various manuscripts there are some materials related to Jan Matejko’s life and arts, as well as those commemorating and critically analysing his life and activity, such as a manuscript of Jan Matejko’s artistic biography written by Stanisław Witkiewicz. A query revealed also numerous photographs showing the artist, some with his hand-written dedications. Thanks to the popularity of Jan Matejko’s paint- ings, the manuscripts collection includes also a great deal of replicas of his most famous but also some unique works printed on postcards, photographs and newspaper clips. The discovered materials do not form a coherent collection but through their diversity they can be considered an interesting source for the research on Jan Matejko’s life and work as well as on the perception of his paintings among his contemporaries and following generations.

The international exchange of the publications of the Scientific Library of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Polish Academy of Sciences in the years 2000–2016

The present article discusses the way the international exchange functioned in the Scientific Library of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Polish Academy of Sciences in the years 2000– 2016. It describes the changes that it was been undergoing since the Library had been incorporated into the structures of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences. Apart from presenting the main scientific institutions and establishments which were continuing partners, the article discusses the challenges and problems connected with the international exchange that the Scientific Library faced in that period. The decrease in the number of the titles sent as well as the co-operating institutions was a result of a limited number of the magazine copies acquired by the Library for the exchange. The fact that certain titles completely ceased to be published also led to the end of the exchange with many entities. The dynamic conversion of the magazines into an electronic form, making them available on the Internet and cuttting the costs are the main reasons for the changes in the way the international exchange has been carried out by the Scientific Library in recent years.