Enibrises from the collection of the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola on religious subjects in the Library of the Faculty of the Catholic University of Lublin in Stalowa Wola

The collection of ex-librises of the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola numbers about 300 pieces. Most of them are a gift from Rev. Wilhelm Gaj Piotrowski, a recognized regionalist and researcher of Rozwadów’s history. A small collection of ex-librises was also donated to the Museum by Janusz Oginski, a researcher of the region and journalist.
The ex-librises come mainly from our region and can be divided into several categories: regional, religious, solidarity (patriotic). They are made using various graphic techniques, the predominant technique is the cintype but there is also woodcut, linocut or copperplate. They are made by many well-known graphic artists, including Eng. Klemens Raczek, Stanislaw Popek, Stanislaw Ibis-Gratkowski, Stanislaw Para, Tomasz Roman Zurowski or Wiktor Zbigniew Langner.
We have a collection of more than 60 exlibrises designed by Klemens Raczek (b. 1911 in Borek Wielkopolski, d. 2.07.2008 in Poznan), a well-known bibliophile and creator of more than 670 exlibrises. The collection also includes works by Stanislaw “Ibis” Gratkowski (born May 7, 1923 in Rypin, died 1988) – a Polish painter, graphic artist and caricaturist, for many years the graphic manager of the biweekly magazine “Karuzela.”
It is also worth mentioning Tadeusz Roman Żurowski (born 3.04.1908 in Zagórze, died 26.08.1985 in Warsaw), who was a well-known archaeologist, conservationist, graphic artist, collector and creator of ex-librises. He made 1,038 ex-librises mainly on archaeological themes.
Magdalena Koltunovich
Museum curator – art historian
Art Department at the Regional Museum in Stalowa Wola

 

Exlibis (Latin: Ex libris – “of the books”) spelling: exlibris, and on the mark the inscription ex libris – is a book ownership mark, made in a graphic technique (woodcut, copperplate, etching, lithography). It contains the name or initials of the owner. Usually it is a small printed card, glued to the inside of the cover. An exlibris enhances the artistic qualities of a book.
The exlibris has a centuries-old tradition, dating back to ancient Egypt. They were faience plates bearing the name of a pharaoh, attached to papyrus scrolls. Since the Middle Ages, the ownership mark was the owner’s coat of arms. In the first half of the 16th century, printed exlibris appeared.
The oldest Polish book mark is a woodcut from 1516. Nowadays, collecting exlibris is one of the fields of collecting. Collections are exhibited in galleries and function in the art market just like other art genres. The collection of exlibris is handled by many libraries. The richest collection of more than 200,000 copies is held by the Library of the British Museum in London.
Well-known bibliophile Marian J. Wojciechowski writes:

“The exlibris is the most appropriate and noble way to mark the ownership of a book, because as a miniature work of art it evokes aesthetic feelings, while being a proof of the culture of its owner. Thus, the essence of an exlibris is connected with the love of a book, with the cultural level of a person, and emphasizes the bond existing between the book and its owner, whose name appears on the graphic sign.”
elaborated. Iwona Gonkowska
Library custodian
WZ KUL Library in Stalowa Wola
Announcement of the exhibition in TVK Stella:

http://www.tvkstella.pl/news/fullnews.php?fn_id=7410&fbclid=IwAR1tpk_5XSCNd2snINKlbbF9lVRlly6o–tK3R0kcHuOjCacL8qRcy_0lcQ