Bern, Burgerbibliothek
The Burgerbibliothek Bern is a cultural institute of the Burgergemeinde Berne, a Civic Community. The Burgerbibliothek in its current state was established in 1951 when the town and university library was transformed into a foundation. Today the Burgerbibliothek is open to the public. Its scientific archives hold and preserve numerous important and internationally renowned manuscripts, records and photographic files. Among the best known collections are those of the medieval manuscripts, the Bongarsiana-Codices, documents concerning Swiss and Bernese history as well as bequests of important people such as Albrecht von Haller or Jeremias Gotthelf. The Burgerbibliothek also acts in an archival capacity for the Burgergemeinde (Civic Community), the guilds and the Burger’s societies. As a scientific institute, the Burgerbibliothek is of service to researchers and is also open to the interested public. Its collection is accessible in a beautiful reading room and conveyed through publications, guided tours and exhibitions.
Three bifolia of a humanistic manuscript perhaps produced in Italy. This beautifully illuminated fragment contains the beginning of Cicero’s De amicitia and came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
4 bifolia of a manuscript produced in France containing excerpts from Seneca’s Epistulae morales as well as his vita. According to a note on f. 8v, the manuscript probably found itself in the region of Alençon in the 14th century. The fragment came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
A single leaf from a manuscript produced in France and containing Priscian’s Partitiones. The fragment came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
Two leaves of a manuscript probably produced in the Loire region with Isidore’s De natura rerum. The second leaf contains a carefully drawn and illuminated map of the winds with the Latin and Greek names of the winds. The fragment came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
Single leaf from a manuscript likely produced in Eastern France containing excerpts from the Annales Laurissenses or the Annales Mettenses. The text deals with the events of 783 to 785. The fragment came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
4 leaves from a manuscript possibly produced in Fleury with grammatical content, including a Carolingian commentary on Donatus. The fragment came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
Two bifolia from a manuscript produced in Fleury; in addition to Phocas’ grammar, the fragment contains excerpts from Priscian as well as a poem on Saint Benedict. The fragment came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
Six leaves from a medical manuscript that was produced in France. In addition to excerpts from the Dynamidia, the fragment contains medical recipes and blessings. It came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
9 leaves (probably 1 quire) of a manuscript produced in France. The fragment contains passages from the eighth book of Martianus Capella’s De nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii, as well as grammatical excerpts. It came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
A ten-leaf fragment of French origin, coming from two different codicological units. Part A (the two outer bifolia) contains a text on the twelve gems as well as various medical treatises. Part B holds parts of the second book of Isaac Judaeus’ Practica, in the Latin translation of Constantinus Africanus, as well as a few medical recipes. The fragment came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
Three leaves from a manuscript produced in France. The leaves chiefly contain a text, probably excerpted from various sources, on the twelve gems as well as medical recipes. The fragment came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
Bifolia from a manuscript produced in France that, on the basis of a beautiful majuscule explicit, may have contained Jerome’s commentary on Matthew. There follows a short orthography, an excerpt from Augustine, as well as the text by Eugenius Toletanus on the ten Egyptian plagues. The fragment came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
Bifolium from a manuscript produced in France. The fragment contains the accessus to Cicero’s De amicitia as well as the beginning of a glossed version of Horace’s Ars poetica. It came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
Single leaf of a manuscript probably produced in France containing Persius’ Saturae. The fragment, with its numerous interlinear and marginal glosses, came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
Two bifolia from a manuscript produced in France. The fragment contains, in addition to Walter Map’s Praedicatio Goliae and the beginning of Hugh of Saint Victor’s De quinque septenis, one or two homilies that have not yet been identified. The fragment came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
A heavily damaged leaf from a manuscript produced in France, containing a list of French kings as well as Archbishops of Tours. The additions to the list extend into the second quarter of the 13th century. The fragment came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
Single leaf of Paolo Emili’s De rebus gestis Francorum. The fragment, written in a beautiful humanistic minuscule and later used as a book cover, came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
4 bifolia (probably 1 quire) from a manuscript produced in Fleury. The content of the texts, which are partly designed as a student-teacher dialogue, ranges from orthography and grammer to the Artes liberales and the ages of the world to a glossary of the parts of the body. The fragment came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
A heavily degraded bifolium from a manuscript produced in France containing Augustine’s Principia dialecticae. Ownership marks indicate that, in the fifteenth century, the fragment belonged to Isabel d'Esch, a member of one of the most prominent families of Metz. It came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021
Three large-format leaves from a manuscript produced in Eastern France and containing the Instituta coenobiorum of John Cassian. The fragment, probably taken from a medieval book binding, came to Bern in 1632 as part of the property of Jacques Bongars.
Online Since: 07/12/2021