From the printing of engravings, through the facsimilation of old prints, to the bartynotype of numismatic items, or About the Stripes and Works of Władysław Bartynowski

Władysław Bartynowski was a famous Polish numismatist active in the second half of 19th century in Cracow. Apart from coins, his collection included also old historical graphics, prints and books. He worked as an antiquarian and publisher, and his key aim was to protect Polish cultural heritage and works of art representing his areas of interest. Therefore, he was not only collecting and trading, but also cataloguing, maintaining and reproducing prints, graphics , books and coins. Motivated by patriotic feelings, he used to take care of the safety of relics he received and the availability of copies to all interested parties. He was one of the first Polish makers of old prints facsimiles, which he called the likenesses. As an editor of „Wiadomości Archeologiczno-Numizmatyczne”, he tried to improve the method of reproduction of coins and medals on paper. In relations to that, he invented own method of hollow graphic reproduction of numismates on paper. These prints, called bartynotypes, were used mainly for cataloguing of the collection of count Andrzej Potocki. Unfortunately, the collection, like many other relics, was damaged or dispersed due to World Wars. Bartynowski’s reproductions remain the only relic of the lost works of numismatic, graphic and printing art, as well as the art of medals. He donated the greater part of the collection to the Czapski Muzeum he established together with the count Emeryk Hutten-Czapski and his wife.

The paper on the Władysław Bartynowski’s publishing portfolio is based mostly on his family archive. It is one of the chapters of a planned book about the Bartynowski Family.

Key words: graphic, old print, Batrynowski’s method of coin reproduction, Bartynowski

Władysław Bartynowski was a famous Polish numismatist active in the second half of 19th century in Cracow. Apart from coins, his collection included also old historical graphics, prints and books. He worked as an antiquarian and publisher, and his key aim was to protect Polish cultural heritage and works of art representing his areas of interest. Therefore, he was not only collecting and trading, but also cataloguing, maintaining and reproducing prints, graphics , books and coins. Motivated by patriotic feelings, he used to take care of the safety of relics he received and the availability of copies to all interested parties. He was one of the first Polish makers of old prints facsimiles, which he called the likenesses. As an editor of „Wiadomości Archeologiczno-Numizmatyczne”, he tried to improve the method of reproduction of coins and medals on paper. In relations to that, he invented own method of hollow graphic reproduction of numismates on paper. These prints, called bartynotypes, were used mainly for cataloguing of the collection of count Andrzej Potocki. Unfortunately, the collection, like many other relics, was damaged or dispersed due to World Wars. Bartynowski’s reproductions remain the only relic of the lost works of numismatic, graphic and printing art, as well as the art of medals. He donated the greater part of the collection to the Czapski Muzeum he established together with the count Emeryk Hutten-Czapski and his wife.

The paper on the Władysław Bartynowski’s publishing portfolio is based mostly on his family archive. It is one of the chapters of a planned book about the Bartynowski Family.