Prywatne księgozbiory członków kapituły katedralnej we Włocławku w XVII wieku

The Seminar Library in Wloclawek and other local church and lay libraries still hold remains of rich private book collections once owned by members of the cathedral chapter. To date 41 owners of the 17th century manuscripts and old prints have been identified. The items in the collection are mostly liturgical books, theological, philosophical, historical and legal works as well as sermons. The canon men were all well-educated and had a good command of foreign languages such as Latin and Italian. A considerable number of Italian prints was probably brought to Wloclawek by the canons after they had completed their education at Italian universities like Padua or Rome. The bookplates and hand-written notes reflect canons' collector passion. The books were usually parchment bound, sometimes also cow skin or pigskin bound and embossed with gold. As no margin notes are present, it can only be assumed that the books were used in canons' regular pastoral, judicial and administrative work.