Fondo manoscritti
Item
Country
IT
Name of institution (English)
University Library of Genoa
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
ita
Contact information: postal address
Via Balbi 40, 16126 Genoa
Contact information: phone number
0039 010254641
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
bu-ge@beniculturali.it
Reference number
Ms.
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Manuscript fonds
Title (official language of the state)
Fondo manoscritti
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Biblioteca Universitaria di Genova
Date note
predominantly 15th century/18th century
Language(s)
heb
ita
lat
Extent
1,850 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The manuscript fonds of the Biblioteca universitaria di Genoa gathers a rich and heterogeneous collection of codices of different typologies and provenances. Although they cover a broad chronological scope, most volumes date from the 15th to the 18th centuries.
A manuscript Hebrew Bible (MS D.IX.31) copied in Toledo, Spain, in 1481 is part of this fonds. The codex contains 578 folios and is written in Sephardic square script. Folios 7v and 8 contain cursive Hebrew annotations from a later date, one regarding a Jewish family, the Gallico, and another regarding the sharing of assets between two brothers, Azaria and Abragam Agai. In the endsheets, there is an annotation referring that the Bible was written by a descendent of David Kimhi (1160-1235) in Toledo in 5241 (1481).
A manuscript Hebrew Bible (MS D.IX.31) copied in Toledo, Spain, in 1481 is part of this fonds. The codex contains 578 folios and is written in Sephardic square script. Folios 7v and 8 contain cursive Hebrew annotations from a later date, one regarding a Jewish family, the Gallico, and another regarding the sharing of assets between two brothers, Azaria and Abragam Agai. In the endsheets, there is an annotation referring that the Bible was written by a descendent of David Kimhi (1160-1235) in Toledo in 5241 (1481).
Archival history
The manuscript fonds of the Biblioteca Universitaria di Genova has its origins in the library of the Jesuit College of Genoa. Over the centuries, this original fonds was enriched with further acquisitions, donations and incorporations from several provenances, including libraries of religious congregations and monasteries.
The above-mentioned manuscript D.IX.31 was donated to the library in 1942 by Gerolamo Gaslini (1877-1964).
The above-mentioned manuscript D.IX.31 was donated to the library in 1942 by Gerolamo Gaslini (1877-1964).
Administrative / Biographical history
The Biblioteca Universitaria di Genova has its origins in the Library of the Jesuit College of Genoa. After the dissolution of the Society of Jesus in 1773, the college was renamed Università Pubblica (public university) and became under the direct control of the Republic of Genoa. Therefore, the Jesuit library was transformed into the Libreria della Pubblica Università di strada Balbi (Library of the Public University of Balbi Street) and, over the following years, incorporated the libraries of extinct monasteries and religious corporations.
In 1778, Gaspare Luigi Oderico (1725-1803) was appointed librarian with the task of cataloguing the books belonging to the former Jesuit college. The task was completed in 1785. Oderico's manuscript volumes constitute the oldest catalogue of the Biblioteca's collection.
From 1797 to 1799, during the Ligurian republic, the Biblioteca was increased with the integration of volumes from numerous Genoese and Ligurian religious orders that were suppressed. At the same time, the library of the learned Augustinian friar Angelico Aprosio (1607-1681) also entered its collection.
In 1801, it was declared as Pubblica Biblioteca Nazionale (National Public Library) and started to receive the legal deposit from Ligurian printers. After the fall of Napoleon and the annexation of the territories of the former Republic of Genoa to the Kingdom of Sardinia, under the rule of the House of Savoy, the library became the Biblioteca della regia Università di Genova (Royal University of Genova Library). This collection of the university remains to the present.
The latest wave of suppression of religious congregations in 1866 led to new incorporations of manuscripts and printed books. The increase of the Biblioteca's collection raised a problem of lack of space. The solution was found in converting the former church of the Jesuit college into the new headquarters of the library. The new facilities were inaugurated in December 1935.
In 1975, the Biblioteca became a peripheral institution of the Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali (Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities). However, the insufficient space to house the library's extensive collection continued to be a problem. Already in this century, the building of the former Hotel Colombia in Via Balbi 40 was purchased and transformed to serve the Biblioteca. Since October 2013, the library's collections, offices, and some services were transferred to this new headquarters.
In 1778, Gaspare Luigi Oderico (1725-1803) was appointed librarian with the task of cataloguing the books belonging to the former Jesuit college. The task was completed in 1785. Oderico's manuscript volumes constitute the oldest catalogue of the Biblioteca's collection.
From 1797 to 1799, during the Ligurian republic, the Biblioteca was increased with the integration of volumes from numerous Genoese and Ligurian religious orders that were suppressed. At the same time, the library of the learned Augustinian friar Angelico Aprosio (1607-1681) also entered its collection.
In 1801, it was declared as Pubblica Biblioteca Nazionale (National Public Library) and started to receive the legal deposit from Ligurian printers. After the fall of Napoleon and the annexation of the territories of the former Republic of Genoa to the Kingdom of Sardinia, under the rule of the House of Savoy, the library became the Biblioteca della regia Università di Genova (Royal University of Genova Library). This collection of the university remains to the present.
The latest wave of suppression of religious congregations in 1866 led to new incorporations of manuscripts and printed books. The increase of the Biblioteca's collection raised a problem of lack of space. The solution was found in converting the former church of the Jesuit college into the new headquarters of the library. The new facilities were inaugurated in December 1935.
In 1975, the Biblioteca became a peripheral institution of the Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali (Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities). However, the insufficient space to house the library's extensive collection continued to be a problem. Already in this century, the building of the former Hotel Colombia in Via Balbi 40 was purchased and transformed to serve the Biblioteca. Since October 2013, the library's collections, offices, and some services were transferred to this new headquarters.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The material is kept in order of accession.
Finding aids
Unpublished finding aids available in the archive:
"Index codicum manuscriptorum qui in Regii Genuensis Athenei Bibliotheca adservantur ordine alphabetico dispositus anno Domini MDCCCLVIII". 1858.
"Inventario topografico dei manoscritti" (Topographic inventory of the manuscripts).
Tamburini, Antonio. 1958. "Inventario dei manoscritti della Biblioteca Universitaria di Genova" (Inventory of the Biblioteca Universitaria di Genova's manucripts), 10 vols.
Tamburini, Antonio. "Catalogo mss. e incunabili Gaslini" (Catalogue of manuscripts and incunabula from Gaslini collection).
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2022
Bibliography
Linked resources
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