Book in contextBook in contextThe ten-year jubilee seminar of The ten-year jubilee seminar of

the Finnish Book Historical the Finnish Book Historical SocietySociety

Helsinki 1-2 November Helsinki 1-2 November 20072007

Book historyBook history

• Who, when, why, what, where and Who, when, why, what, where and what was the result?what was the result?

• manuscript AND printed booksmanuscript AND printed books• transmission of written culturetransmission of written culture• Cassiodorus, Cassiodorus, InstitutionesInstitutiones: : Tot Tot

enim vulnera Satanas accipit, enim vulnera Satanas accipit, quot antiquarius Domini verba quot antiquarius Domini verba describitdescribit

Prophet EzraProphet EzrawritingwritingCodex AmiatinusCodex Amiatinusfrom Wearmouth-from Wearmouth-Jarrow, a copy ofJarrow, a copy ofa Vivarium ms.a Vivarium ms.(Florence,(Florence,Biblioteca MediceaBiblioteca MediceaLaurenziana, Amiat.Laurenziana, Amiat.1, f. Vr)1, f. Vr)

Ludwig Traube (1861-Ludwig Traube (1861-1907): centenary of death1907): centenary of death

• history = discipline, history = discipline, philology = methodphilology = method

• excellent knowledge excellent knowledge of source languages of source languages requiredrequired

• a global approach to a global approach to the study of the study of manuscripts: the manuscripts: the material aspects of material aspects of the volumes, history the volumes, history of libraries, history of of libraries, history of transmission, history transmission, history of book productionof book production

The Finnish Book Historical The Finnish Book Historical SocietySociety

• founded in 1997 as founded in 1997 as Kirjan Kirjan museon ystävätmuseon ystävät (Friends of the (Friends of the Museum of the Book)Museum of the Book)

• book history from Antiquity to book history from Antiquity to the modern agethe modern age

• book historical seminars since book historical seminars since 20032003

Books in transitionBooks in transition

• Academy of Finland project 2008-2011Academy of Finland project 2008-2011• 9 case studies: the impact of the book on 9 case studies: the impact of the book on

an individual level in periods of cultural an individual level in periods of cultural change (eleventh- eighteenth centuries)change (eleventh- eighteenth centuries)

• from Italy through England to the from Italy through England to the Empire and ScandinaviaEmpire and Scandinavia

• Cooperation with the Book historical Cooperation with the Book historical societysociety

• Web site Web site http://www.cc.jyu.fi/~merisalo/books.htm

• Kick-off!Kick-off!