UB sets up a sponsor programme to restore the treasures of its library
To be a patron of the first edition of Dialogo sopra i due massimi sistemi del mondo, by Galileu Galilei (1632), or Los trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda, by Miguel de Cervantes (1617), and to contribute to fund cleaning, restoration, binding and digitalization works of these and other volumes is now possible thanks to the setting up of a sponsor programme organised by the Rare Book and Manuscript Library of the Learning and Research Resources Centre (CRAI) of the University of Barcelona.
To be a patron of the first edition of Dialogo sopra i due massimi sistemi del mondo, by Galileu Galilei (1632), or Los trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda, by Miguel de Cervantes (1617), and to contribute to fund cleaning, restoration, binding and digitalization works of these and other volumes is now possible thanks to the setting up of a sponsor programme organised by the Rare Book and Manuscript Library of the Learning and Research Resources Centre (CRAI) of the University of Barcelona.
The initiative, named Adopt an Old Book, has been favourable received and was presented yesterday at the Historic Building.
The Governing Bodies of UB have already sponsored one of the books: Systema Cosmicum, by Galileu Galilei (1699). Some members of the Council of Elders of Alumni UB, who also attende the presentation, are actively involved in the programme and announced their intention to adopt a book. The family Trias de Bes has sponsored Dialogo sopra i due massimi sistemi del mondo, by Galileu Galilei (1632); Jordi Portabella, ERC councillor at Barcelona City Council, has sponsored the 15th century work Cercapou, by Francesc Eixiemenis, and the chef Joan Roca is the patron of Libro del arte de cozina (1609), by Diego Granado. Some companies also joined the project, for instance FIATC Mútua dʼAssegurances has sponsored Dendrographias (1662), by the Polish naturalist Jan Jonston.
The University of Barcelona has one of the most valuable collections of manuscripts and incunables in Spain; it owns more than 3,100 documents (2,178 manuscripts and 975 incunables) and 150,000 volumes printed between the 16th century and 1820. The academic who is in charge of the collection, Dr Carina Rey, states that “some of them are unique copies that need much care; money must be continuously allocated for their restoration as they are very sensible to humidity, fungi or bookworms”.
Some incunables of the collection are more than one thousand year old and the restoration cost, between 500 and 2,400 euros, depends on their preservation condition.
Patrons can contribute individually or collectively, and they can choose between funding the whole process of restoration or only one part of it (from 50 euros). In exchange for donations, they will receive a digital copy of the sponsored work (if their donation is higher than 100 euros) and their name (or any name they wish) will be published on the record card of the work.
In the first phase of the project, the University aims at restoring one hundred works. Restoration works will be carried out by the staff of the CRAI Rare Book and Manuscript Library. If the first phase is favourable received, a second group of books will be selected. The criterion used to select these works was the variety of the collection. Therefore, among the works to be sponsored there are bibles, treatises on physics, illustrated atlas and even novels. Carina Rey emphasizes that “the objective is to offer a wide range of works, so everyone can choose one that suits his or her likes”.
Some of the works that can be sponsored
Degli habiti antichi, et moderni di diuerse parti del mondo libri dve, fatti da Cesare Vecellio & con discorsi da lui dichiarati. Venice, 1590
Clothing catalogue that contains drawings made by Cesare Vecellio, nephew of Titian, and wood carvings by the Christopher Krieger. It contains 420 illustrations of dresses. Its first part is focused on Europe and includes the Ottoman Empire. The second part is shorter and centred on Africa and Asia. An illustration represents each character and it is accompanied by a descriptive text. Only one other copy of the first edition is known to exist; it is at the Capitulary Archive and Library of Pamplona Cathedral, Spain. Two other editions were later published, one in 1598 and the other in 1664; xylographic plaques were also used. The total cost of its restoration is 1,331 euros.
It is the first edition made in Mexico of Hernán Cortésʼ correspondence with Emperor Charles V during his expedition to New Spain. Letters describe villages conquered, their customs and traditions. The edition was curated by the Archbishop of Mexico Francisco Antonio Lorenzana. Cover is two-colour printed with an allegorical chalcography that represent the Americas.
The texts includes many plates that shows in detail the tributes paid to Moctezuma, as well as a wonderful reproduction of the Templo Mayor in Mexico, an engraving of the months of the Mexican year and two folded maps that show the routes of Hernán Cortés and Central American coast. The total cost of its restoration is 1,625 euros.