{"id":85706,"date":"2023-09-30T10:53:39","date_gmt":"2023-09-30T08:53:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/?page_id=85706"},"modified":"2025-06-17T12:26:38","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T10:26:38","slug":"nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/","title":{"rendered":"NSK Manuscripts and Rare Books Collection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NSK Manuscripts and Rare Books Collection is the oldest among the special collections of the National and University Library in Zagreb. Since its establishment in 1894, its staff have systematically curated Croatia\u2019s oldest and most valuable manuscripts and books.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Holdings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Collection\u2019s manuscript material includes codices, manuscripts and handwritten documents of prominent historical figures and institutions, the archival material of various legal entities throughout history and smaller separate manuscript collections.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The books in the Collection include old and rare items dating from the beginnings of printing in Europe to 1835, as well as items of more recent date such as bibliophile books, inscribed book titles, limited edition books, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many items in the Collection have been digitised and are available as part of the NSK Digital Collections<\/a> and Croatian Glagolitic Heritage<\/a> websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manuscripts  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Standing out as particularly valuable among the manuscripts in the Glagolitic alphabet are The Vinodol Code (Vindolski zakonik<\/a><\/em>, 16th<\/sup>-century transcript on parchment), Mavar\u2019s Breviary (Mavrov brevijar<\/a><\/em>, 1460; parchment, angular Glagolitic script), Petris Miscellany (Petrisov zbornik<\/a><\/em>, 1468 transcript on paper), The Vrbnik Statute (Vrbni\u010dki statut<\/a><\/em>, 16th<\/sup> c.; parchment, angular Glagolitic script) and the Istrian Book of Boundaries (Istarski razvod<\/a><\/em>, 16th<\/sup>-century transcript on paper). Representative of Croatian Cyrillic tradition is the Statute of Poljica (Polji\u010dki statut<\/em>, 17th<\/sup>-century transcript on paper), as one of several manuscripts in the Collection in this ancient Croatian alphabet.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Treasures<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Especially valuable among the manuscripts in Latin are On the Trinity, a 15th<\/sup>-century transcript on parchment of the famous work by Saint Hilary of Poitiers (Hilarius Pictaviensis) (De Sancta Trinitate<\/a><\/em>), the original manuscripts of the major works of Croatian literature such as The Siren of the Adriatic Sea, by Nikola VII Zrinski (Mikl\u00f3s Zr\u00ednyi) (Adriai tengernek Syrenaia<\/a><\/em>, 1651) and The Death of Smail-aga \u010cengi\u0107, by Ivan Ma\u017eurani\u0107 (Smrt Smail-age \u010cengi\u0107a<\/em>, 1846), as well as a large number of transcripts of Ivan Gunduli\u0107\u2019s Osman<\/a><\/em>, one of the rare works of old Croatian literature translated in several languages, and of Croatia\u2019s other great literary works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manuscript archives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Collection includes personal manuscript archives of prominent Croatian writers and other distinguished individuals in the context of Croatian history and cultural heritage such as one of the most distinguished Croatian writers and thinkers of all time Miroslav Krle\u017ea<\/a>, Croatian linguists Vatroslav Jagi\u0107 and Stjepan Iv\u0161i\u0107 and others.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Printed treasures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Also preserved as part of the Collection are the invaluable printed treasures, ranging from the first printed book in the Croatian language and alphabet, the 1483 incunabulum Missal by the Law of the Roman Court (Misal po zakonu rimskoga dvora<\/a><\/em>), through works by \u201cthe father of Croatian literature\u201d Marko Maruli\u0107, Hanibal Luci\u0107, Dinko Ranjina, Marin Dr\u017ei\u0107, Ivan Gunduli\u0107, Bartol Ka\u0161i\u0107, Andrija Ka\u010di\u0107 Mio\u0161i\u0107, Matija Antun Reljkovi\u0107 and other distinguished names of Croatian literature, to those featuring discoveries and achievements of the leading figures of Croatia\u2019s history of science such as Antun Vran\u010di\u0107 and his nephew, the \u201cCroatian Leonardo da Vinci\u201d Faust Vran\u010di\u0107 (Faustus Verantius), Matija Vla\u010di\u0107 Ilirik, Frane Petris (Franciscus Patricius), Marin Getaldi\u0107, Ivan Luci\u0107, the world-famous 18th<\/sup>-century physicist, astronomer, mathematician and philosopher and Fellow of the Royal Society Ru\u0111er Josip Bo\u0161kovi\u0107<\/a> (Ruggero Giuseppe Boscovich), Pavao Ritter Vitezovi\u0107, 18th<\/sup>-century Croatian historian and clergyman whose 1777 generous donation of volumes and manuscripts makes the basis of the entire NSK\u2019s collection Adam Baltazar Kr\u010deli\u0107, Matija Petar Katan\u010di\u0107, Juraj Habdeli\u0107, Jakov Mikalja, Ivan Belostenec and others.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Collection holds Zriniana<\/em>, the library of the Zrinski family, many of whose members left an indelible mark on Croatia\u2019s history and cultural heritage, and the library of the Ku\u0161evi\u0107 family, another great Croatian family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reference collection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Collection\u2019s reading room makes available an extensive collection of various reference works including bibliographies, inventories, catalogues, lexicons, lists of works and encyclopaedias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital resources<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Collection\u2019s digitised resources are available on the NSK Digital Collections<\/a> and NSK Digitised Manuscripts<\/a> websites.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Two<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The digitised works of the Croatian Glagolitic tradition whose originals are preserved as part of the Collection are available on the Croatian Glagolitic heritage website, Glagoljica.hr<\/a>, which also provides access to the digitised works in the Glagolitic alphabet whose originals are preserved in the collections of institutions outside Croatia<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access to collection items<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Owing to their great value and the need for careful handling, resources in the Collection may only be consulted in the Collection\u2019s reading room, upon being requested in advance, in person, by phone or e-mail<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Reference works available in the Collection\u2019s reading room may be freely consulted without a prior request during the Collection\u2019s opening hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Collection\u2019s resources may be digitised upon request, for research purposes only. Digitisation requests may be submitted online or in person, in the Collection\u2019s reading room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\tDigitisation Request Form<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

Projects and exhibitions<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Collection and its staff are included in various activities related to NSK\u2019s projects and its cooperation initiatives involving heritage, academic and research institutions in Croatia and abroad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apart from being presented on the NSK Online Exhibitions<\/a> website, the Collection\u2019s valuable resources are frequently featured as part of physical exhibitions in Croatia and abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n\n \n
\n\n
\n

Opening hours<\/h3>\n

Monday \u2013 Friday 8.00 \u2013 16.00
\nHoldings may be requested and consulted from 9.00 to 15.00.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n

Location<\/h3>\n

Lower Ground Floor (-1)<\/p>\n

\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

\n
\n\n \n
\n\n
\n

Contact<\/h3>\n

zbirka.rijetkosti@nsk.hr<\/a><\/p>\n

+385 1 616 4281
\n+385 1 616 4073
\n+385 1 616 4315
\n+385 1 616 4103<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n

Staff<\/h3>\n

Dr Irena Gali\u0107 Be\u0161ker<\/a>, Head of the Collection<\/p>\n

Kristina Juda\u0161<\/a>
\nIvan Kapec<\/a>
\nKarolina Tumbas<\/a>
\nBoris Krsti\u0107<\/a><\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NSK Manuscripts and Rare Books Collection is the oldest among the special collections of the National and University Library in Zagreb. Since its establishment…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"parent":84803,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-85706","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNSK Manuscripts and Rare Books Collection - Nacionalna i sveu\u010dili\u0161na knji\u017enica u Zagrebu<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Manuscripts and Old Books Collection of NSK, the National and University Library in Zagreb, holds Croatia\u2019s oldest and most valuable manuscripts and books.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NSK Manuscripts and Rare Books Collection - Nacionalna i sveu\u010dili\u0161na knji\u017enica u Zagrebu\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Manuscripts and Old Books Collection of NSK, the National and University Library in Zagreb, holds Croatia\u2019s oldest and most valuable manuscripts and books.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Nacionalna i sveu\u010dili\u0161na knji\u017enica u Zagrebu\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-17T10:26:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/NSKWeb_NSK-Manuscripts-and-Old-Books-Collection-1024x772.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"772\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/\",\"name\":\"NSK Manuscripts and Rare Books Collection - Nacionalna i sveu\u010dili\u0161na knji\u017enica u Zagrebu\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/NSKWeb_NSK-Manuscripts-and-Old-Books-Collection-1024x772.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-30T08:53:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-17T10:26:38+00:00\",\"description\":\"The Manuscripts and Old Books Collection of NSK, the National and University Library in Zagreb, holds Croatia\u2019s oldest and most valuable manuscripts and books.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/NSKWeb_NSK-Manuscripts-and-Old-Books-Collection-1024x772.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/NSKWeb_NSK-Manuscripts-and-Old-Books-Collection-1024x772.png\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Homepage\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"NSK collections\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"NSK Manuscripts and Rare Books Collection\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Nacionalna i sveu\u010dili\u0161na knji\u017enica u Zagrebu\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"NSK Manuscripts and Rare Books Collection - Nacionalna i sveu\u010dili\u0161na knji\u017enica u Zagrebu","description":"The Manuscripts and Old Books Collection of NSK, the National and University Library in Zagreb, holds Croatia\u2019s oldest and most valuable manuscripts and books.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"NSK Manuscripts and Rare Books Collection - Nacionalna i sveu\u010dili\u0161na knji\u017enica u Zagrebu","og_description":"The Manuscripts and Old Books Collection of NSK, the National and University Library in Zagreb, holds Croatia\u2019s oldest and most valuable manuscripts and books.","og_url":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/","og_site_name":"Nacionalna i sveu\u010dili\u0161na knji\u017enica u Zagrebu","article_modified_time":"2025-06-17T10:26:38+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":772,"url":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/NSKWeb_NSK-Manuscripts-and-Old-Books-Collection-1024x772.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/","url":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/","name":"NSK Manuscripts and Rare Books Collection - Nacionalna i sveu\u010dili\u0161na knji\u017enica u Zagrebu","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/NSKWeb_NSK-Manuscripts-and-Old-Books-Collection-1024x772.png","datePublished":"2023-09-30T08:53:39+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-17T10:26:38+00:00","description":"The Manuscripts and Old Books Collection of NSK, the National and University Library in Zagreb, holds Croatia\u2019s oldest and most valuable manuscripts and books.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/NSKWeb_NSK-Manuscripts-and-Old-Books-Collection-1024x772.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/NSKWeb_NSK-Manuscripts-and-Old-Books-Collection-1024x772.png"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/nsk-manuscripts-and-old-books-collection\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Homepage","item":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"NSK collections","item":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/nsk-collections\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"NSK Manuscripts and Rare Books Collection"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/","name":"Nacionalna i sveu\u010dili\u0161na knji\u017enica u Zagrebu","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/85706","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85706"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/85706\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":96904,"href":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/85706\/revisions\/96904"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/84803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nsk.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85706"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}