Katalog der Handschriften der Univ. Bibliothek Innsbruck

With its 1067 (700 medieval) manuscripts, the University Library (UB) Innsbruck possesses a precious stock of documents that disclose medieval bookarts. Since these manuscripts had been recorded inadequately, a printed catalogue that complies with modern demands was being desired for a long time. After extensive preliminary work, and within the scope of the Kommission für Schrift- und Buchwesen des Mittelalters der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, a scientific catalogue got started, that maintains the commissions instructions. Up to now, three volumes (Bd. 1 and 2: 1987 and 1991, Cod. 1-200, processed by the manuscript department of the UB Innsbruck; Bd. 3: 1999, Cod. 201-300, sponsored by the FWF [a fond to support scientific work in Austria], - just as the forth volume, that is now at hand) have been puplished. In conformity with the commissions guidelines, all aspects of a manuscript were considered, formal aspects as well as textual ones. The catalogues are arranged according to signatures, thus they unveil a variegated picture. The depiction of a manuscripts appearance lists exact information about the structure of the manuscript, the material on which was written, the writing itself, artistic decoration and the binding. What comes to many manuscripts, primordially anonymous texts could be ascribed to an author by the use of relevant bibliography, and many texts are presented for the very first time. All in all, the catalogue is rather important for the source research of many disciplines. Corresponding to the manuscripts origins (most of them are descending from Tyrolean convents), theology is in the foreground. In addition to it, the stock of manuscripts enfolds selected works of the history of law, classical and medieval philology, German studies, history of science and, furthermore, some precious drawings (e.g. Cod. 301, an evangelistar of Schnals; Cod. 325, Martial, with florentine drawings; Cod. 330, a Roman psaltery). Apart from that, utensil manuscripts of the 13th and 14th century are predominant, whose subject matter is theological, such as anonymous collections of sermons, scholastic works and excerpts. Noteworthy are also grammatical manuscripts and a collection of letters (adressed to pope and emperor, Cod. 400, - in this form yet unknown!). This fourth catalogue too attaches great importance to the history of each manuscript, since there was a variety of previous owner. This will help to reconstruct the outstanding history of Tyrolean libraries. Two registers (index of incipits, authors, titels and a general index), extensive pictures and appendices do make it easier to handle the catalogues. At the moment, the fifth catalogue is at work, out of probably ten, that will be necessary to embrace the 1067 manuscripts.