THE LATIN LIBRARY IN JÁCHYMOV
INTRODUCTION
Following the foundation of the town of Jáchymov, not only did mining flourish and the settlement grow into the second most populous town in the Kingdom of Bohemia, but education developed alongside economic prosperity. A Latin school was established as early as 1519, and in 1524 a Latin library was founded as part of the school. It soon became one of the most significant municipal libraries of its time.
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT
In 1534, the town preacher Johan Mathesius became rector of the Latin school. He was one of the most prominent figures in the spiritual and cultural life of Jáchymov. Mathesius is regarded as the founder of the oldest surviving parish register in the Czech lands and as the author of the town chronicle. His work greatly enhanced the intellectual standing of the town.
A distinctive feature of the library was that from the very beginning it served not only students, but also physicians, mining officials and mine operators. This reflects the character of Jáchymov as a technically advanced and economically powerful mining centre where education played an important practical role.
As part of the re-Catholicisation process, the Latin school and its library were closed in 1627 as a centre of Protestantism. In its heyday, however, the library testified to the education of the urban elite, the humanist orientation of the school and the wealth of the town.
DISCOVERY AND RESCUE
In 1871, the remnants of the library were discovered in the attic of the town hall, buried under refuse, rubble and even snow, by Karl Siegl (1851–1943), director of the Cheb Municipal Archive and a native of Jáchymov. He had originally been searching for the so-called Schlik Library. After discovering the books, he immediately began compiling an inventory, which he handed over to the mining master Florian Vogl (1818–1896).
The accidental discovery proved decisive. In 1873, the town was struck by a catastrophic fire that destroyed the town hall along with much of the town. Without the prior intervention, the books would almost certainly have been lost forever.
COLLECTION AND CONTENT
A total of 232 volumes containing 358 works have survived. Of these, 52 were printed before 1500 and are therefore European incunabula. Approximately one third of the collection consists of theological writings, another third of works by classical authors, and the remainder includes dictionaries, astronomical and astrological treatises, calendars, and works on natural science and botany.
Among the notable works are Mathesius’ Sarepta, the epic Das Joachimsthaler Bergbüchlein by Hans Ruthard, Agricola’s De re metallica from 1557, and Homer’s Iliad from 1535. The library also contains a Latin Bible printed in Venice in 1479, Ptolemy’s Cosmographia published in Ulm in 1486 with 32 coloured maps, and two volumes of sacred songs Cantica Sacra by Nickel Hermann.
The most recent book is Sebastian Münster’s Cosmographia from 1629. A unique treasure is an illuminated German Bible from 1475. The most valuable item is probably a Hebrew Old Testament – a manuscript codex consisting of 464 parchment leaves by Eliezer ben Issak from the 12th century.
PRESENT DAY AND EXHIBITION
Part of the collection is now displayed at the Jáchymov Museum in the former mint building. In addition, an exhibition dedicated to the Latin Library has been established in the reconstructed cellar spaces of the town hall, symbolically returning the collection to its original location.
A public library was established in Jáchymov already in 1540–1541 through the efforts of Mayor Štěpán Hacker. A noteworthy feature of this institution was its printed lending regulations, demonstrating the high level of organisation of urban cultural life in the 16th century.
