Provenance of the Plock Cathedral and Pultusk Collegiate Chapters of the Lost Set of Incunabula of the Seminary Library in Plock

Abstract

The cathedral chapter in Płock and the collegiate chapter in Pułtusk, were among the most important institutions of religious and intellectual life of the Płock diocese. Their role in the development of religious and intellectual life in the Middle Ages is evidencedby the preserved incunabula, kept until the Second World War in the Seminary Libraryin Płock. In total, by 1939, fourty-four incunabula had the provenance of the cathedral chapter, while other – of the collegiate chapter. They found their way into the chapter collection thanks to donations or legacies. The most frequent donors were bishops or canons of both chapters. The analysis of the books’ content allows us to conclude that the possessed incunabula, donated to the chapters, reflected the mindset of their owners, their intellectual interests and often helped them in their pastoral work.