This quaestio disputata by the Augustinian Johannes of Paltz (around 1445-1511) is a perfect illustration of the working methods of medieval scholasticism. The manuscript was written in Erfurt in the summer of 1486 and has as its topic the refutation of three errors. The first regards those who claim “to be able to calculate and foresee the Last Judgment.” It seems that this document is the only handwritten version of this text, which is known through two printed editions from the 15th century. Franz Xaver Karker (1812-1892), Canon of the Cathedral of Breslau (today Wroclaw in Poland), donated this work to the Fribourg library. (jur)

Online Since: 04/09/2014

This small but extensive (198 ff.) prayer book is written in a variant of North German (Middle Low German). In accordance with the female form in many of the prayers, it was intended for a woman. With the exception of one full-page miniature depicting Christ as the gardener before Mary Magdalene (Noli me tangere), all illuminations have been removed. An ex-libris on the front pastedown informs us that this small manuscript was a gift to the Fribourg Library in 1891 from Franz Xaver Karker, canon of Wroclaw Cathedral. (ber)

Online Since: 10/08/2020

This elegant codex, written in humanistic script, was commissioned by Pope Leo X († 1521). The Medici coat of arms can be found in the middle of the original binding's cover, in a rich frieze on the frontispiece, and in the initials on f. 3v and f. 134v. The decoration is attributed to the famous Florentine illuminator Attavante degli Attavanti († 1525) or his circle. This codex is from the collection of Major J.R. Abbey. (ber)

Online Since: 03/22/2017

Sermons of Bishop Maximus of Turin († between 408-423): one of the most important manuscript copies from the time around 700, possibly produced in the Cloister of Luxeuil in Burgundy, in a Merovingian Uncial script. It is among the oldest books held by the Abbey Library still preserved in their original forms and bindings. (smu)

Online Since: 12/09/2008

Lives of the patron or "house" saints of St. Gall, written in the first half of the 9th century in the monastery of St. Gall, includes multiple short hagiographic and liturgical texts including: a) the life history of Columba, composed by Jonas of Bobbio, in excellent condition, b) the unique surviving copy in the world of the life history of St. Gallen founder Saint Gallus, composed by Reichenau monk Wetti in about 816/824. (smu)

Online Since: 12/09/2008

Small format manuscript for regular use with a Capitular document collection from the time of Charlemagne. It contains numerous regulations enacted by Charlemagne between 779 and 789, in good, excellent, and sometimes unique surviving versions. It contains, among other items, the Capitularies of Herstal from 779 and the famous Admonitio generalis of Charlemagne from 789. Excellently conserved original Carolingian binding. (smu)

Online Since: 12/09/2008

The manuscript, rebound in the seventeenth or eighteenth century, transmits in its first part a commentary on the second book of the Decretales Gregorii IX (Liber Extra). The second part of the manuscript comprises just two quires, with a commentary on Title 26 of the same second book of the decretals. The manuscript belonged to the St. Gall monk Johannes Bischoff († 1495), who studied Canon Law in 1474–1476 at the University of Pavia. He wrote the commentary in the first part of the manuscript in his own hand. (len)

Online Since: 09/22/2022

A composite manuscript that is very instructive about the history of the library; it is made up of various documents, written between 1680 and 1780 and then bound together. Part 1 (pp. 7-121): manuscript catalog by Fr. Hermann Schenk (1653-1706) from the period around 1700. Around 1750, Fr. Pius Kolb (1712-1762) added his new catalog signatures. Kolb also noted missing manuscripts in Schenk's catalog. Most of these had been taken to Zurich in 1712 (deest). Part 2: (pp. 127−153 and pp. 162−167): register of abbey library benefactors (Monumentum gratitudinis dedicatum benefactoribus Bibliothecae), begun in 1680 and continued until 1780. Extraordinary donations to the library were entered retroactively to 1567, such as (p. 133) the “donation” of a large terrestrial and celestial globe by the pharmacist Lukas Stöckli from Constance. Such mentions often concern objects from the library's cabinet of curiosities and rarities. Part 3 (pp. 155-161): books that were acquired between 1717 and 1737 under Abbot Joseph von Rudolphi (1717-1740). Part 4 (pp. 169 and pp. 175-187): books from the estate of Prince-Abbot (1687-1696) and Cardinal Cölestin Sfondrati, which after his death were integrated into the library by Fr. Hermann Schenk. Part 5 (pp. 191-234): collection of larger format volumes from the abbey library from the period around 1700. Part 6: (pp. 237−270; separate loose documents): list of the abbey library's most beautiful books from the period around 1750, composed by Fr. Pius Kolb and entitled Ilias in nuce. Part 7 (pp. 275-280; collection of loose pages): list of manuscript signatures by Fr. Pius Kolb. (smu)

Online Since: 06/23/2014

Fragment from a Glagolitic breviary with texts for August 13th and 14th; based on the script, it can be dated to the 15th century. It belonged to Franz Miklosich (1813-1891), one of the most important Slavicists of his time, and was a gift to the Basel Antiques Collection, the precursor of the Basel Historical Museum. (gam/flr)

Online Since: 06/25/2015