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“The enemy is at the walls; we are barely holding out. If you do not come, we are all lost.”

From a textbook used by students of the Vilnius Diocesan Seminary.

#NationalLibraryofLithuania #earlymodern #manuscript
A handwritten Latin manuscript page A handwritten Latin manuscript page Title page of a 17th-century Latin manuscript titled Promptuarium Orationum in Omni Materia Subsequentur Epistolae Varie.
November 5, 2025 at 7:34 AM
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All sorts of activities happeningnin this teeny tiny vignette.

#oldbooks #rarebooks #fishing #swimming #bridges #NationalLibraryOfLithuania
Illustration of a stone bridge with two arches. A small figure walks across the bridge, carrying a stick. Below, people fish on the riverside. On the right side stands a tower and trees; on the left, hills and another tree. The scene is framed within an oval border.
August 22, 2025 at 2:22 PM
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Annotation? No thanks, I’ll draw my feelings instead.
What mood would you doodle today?

#rarebooks #earlymodernbook #NationalLibraryOfLithuania #doodle
A printed Latin text with a large decorated initial “Q.” The letter has been doodled into a cartoonish face, with eyes, eyebrows, nose, and a frowning mouth. Above the “Q,” extra pen strokes make it look like the figure is wearing a hat. A printed Latin text with a large initial “V.” Inside the letter, someone has drawn a small face with eyes, nose, and mouth. A printed Latin text with a large initial “Q.” The circular part of the letter has been filled with a face: two dark eyes, a large shaded nose, and a serious mouth with a moustache-like line, making the letter resemble a stern human head.
August 21, 2025 at 4:49 AM
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A stunning piece of history: a 17th c. document stating family lineage of the #Scottish Gordon family, richly decorated with heraldry and cartouche of King Charles II. Some Gordons later settled in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania—bridging Scottish and Lithuanian heritage. #NationalLibraryOfLithuania
A historic parchment document confirming the nobility of the Scottish Gordon family, featuring ornate calligraphy, coats of arms, a portrait of King Charles IĮ, and decorative elements. The document shows signs of aging and water damage Close-up of a 17th-century engraved and hand-colored portrait of King Charles II - a man with long curly hair and elaborate clothing-, featured in the Gordon family nobility document. Close-up of the heraldic crest at the top of the Gordon family nobility document, showing a shield flanked by a lion and a unicorn, with red and blue ornamental flourishes and Latin inscriptions.
March 24, 2025 at 8:26 AM
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When job descriptions are vague, but carrying random objects with style is a must.

From 16th century #AlbumAmicorum #Renaissance #earlymodern
#NationalLibraryOfLithuania
A 16th-century illustration of a man in a Purple and black Renaissance outfit with a ruffled collar, black cape, and black shoes. He carries a large, ornate pillow on his shoulder, holding it with one hand while carrying a small hat in the other. The handwritten text above reads “Habito Vinitiano” and describes him as a servant carrying a cushion. A 16th-century illustration of a man dressed in purple and black Renaissance clothing, wearing a black hat with gold trim. He is carrying an ornate, red and gold chair on his shoulder, gripping one of its curved arms. The handwritten text identifies him as another servant tasked with carrying a chair A 16th-century illustration of a man in Renaissance attire, holding a large, elegant parasol with a golden frame and pink fabric. He wears a black hat with a gold band and walks forward, holding the parasol upright. The handwritten text describes him as a servant carrying an umbrella.
March 21, 2025 at 8:25 AM
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I also enjoy spending my free time plowing fields and lassoing butterflies. #JustAgrarianThings #earlymodern #rarebooks #bookhistory #NationalLibraryofLithuania
Engraved illustration from an early printed book showing a cherub-like figure with wings holding a small plow and guiding a curved branch or ribbon that appears to be lassoing two butterflies. Below the image, a Latin inscription reads: ‘Verbaque aratoris rustica discit Amor,’ which translates to ‘And Love learns the rustic words of the plowman.’ The book’s title and author information are partially visible, printed in a classic serif typeface.
March 20, 2025 at 10:50 AM
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Not only 12 apostles attended the Last Supper! Look closely, and you’ll spot a #cat symbolizing betrayal and a loyal #dog representing faithfulness. 🐾🐱🐶

Missale Romanum, Antwerp, 1663

#caturday #HiddenDetails #rarebooks #NationalLibraryOfLithuania #OfficinaPlantiniana
February 22, 2025 at 5:44 AM
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A Baroque #Caturday lesson: This cat is more diligent in catching its prey than some are in seeking eternal wisdom. Priorities! 🐱📜

#EarlyModern #rarebooks #specialcollections #NationalLibraryOfLithuania
February 15, 2025 at 1:17 PM
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Amor addidit

Plain and simple.

#valentinesday #earlymodern #officinaplantiniana #NationalLibraryOfLithuania
Black-and-white engraving features an ornate decorative frame surrounding an emblematic image. Inside the frame, there is a turtle with wings, seemingly moving forward. Above the turtle, a ribbon banner displays the Latin phrase “AMOR ADDIDIT,” which translates to “Love has added.” The engraving is executed in a Baroque style, with elaborate scrollwork and fine detailing.
February 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM
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How often do you add your own enhancements to books?

This antiphonal was made for and owned by the Carmelites in Vilnius—most likely, they were the ones who did the touch-ups.
#NationalLibraryOfLithuania #Manuscript #specialcollections
February 3, 2025 at 8:32 AM
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“After 1945 the Library also recovered large portions of the Vilna YIVO’s prewar holdings along with thousands of rabbinic works from Vilna’s Strashun Library.”

On the other note: Strashun's collection of Jewish books held in the #NationalLibraryOfLithuania won recognition from UNESCO in 2017.
January 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
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#NakedBooks Sometines you just get a good lighting and a beautiful set of books on a shelf.

#specialcollections #rarebooks #NationalLibraryOfLithuania
A close-up image of three old books stacked horizontally on top of each other. The books show significant signs of age, with cracked leather spines, exposed binding threads, and worn edges. The top two books exhibit more severe damage, with peeling leather and missing portions of their covers. The bottom book has a slightly better-preserved spine and a green label marked “F.200.”
January 3, 2025 at 8:10 AM
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Two very proud (maybe a little bit to much) authors of the book! What an evening, with great company and interesting conversations about #rarebooks and #specialcollections in general! #NationalLibraryOfLithuania
Viktorija Vaitkevičiūtė on the left and Milda Kvizikevičiūtė on the right holding book “Ex libris bibliothecae nationalis Lithuaniae”
December 23, 2024 at 12:30 PM
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“The feeling when you finally get a copy of your own book! 🎉
Discover the highlights of the #NationalLibraryOfLithuania, all in one place for everyone to explore.

#specialcollections #rarebooks #bestofthebest”
December 11, 2024 at 9:27 AM
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Every year we get an intern from the North Pole. Apparently, we have a direct door to it’s library.

#NationalLibraryOfLithuania #specialcollections #skystorians
December 9, 2024 at 9:18 AM
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Who needs #Antwerp when you’ve got #Venice? This 1625 book might look like a #OfficinaPlantiniana masterpiece, but that’s just the printer’s creative marketing. 17th-century book world: where branding was already king. #RareBooks #PrintingFrauds #specialcollections #NationalLibraryOfLithuania
Title page of a 1625 book, ‘Justini ex Trogo Pompeio Historia,’ printed in Venice. The page features the title in large, bold letters and an ornate printer’s device resembling the Officina Plantiniana mark, used deceptively to mimic Antwerp’s famous printing house. Handwritten notes are visible in the margins.
December 3, 2024 at 7:03 AM
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No shirts, no pants, no envy.

16th century Ovid’s Metamorphoses was not decent enough for the public eye—but at least the pants situation was covered.

#earlymodernbook #specialcollections #NationalLibraryOfLithuania
December 2, 2024 at 8:33 AM
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Daphne mezereum | February Daphne

A stunning glimpse into historical #botany and its preservation!

19th-century herbarium with dried plants and illustrations, from Piotr Veriovkin, former governor of Kaunas, collection. Now part of the #NationalLibraryOfLithuania special cillections.
An open 19th-century herbarium showcasing a detailed hand-painted botanical illustration of a flowering plant (Latin name Daphne mezererum) on one page and a corresponding pressed dried plant specimen carefully attached to the opposite page. The background includes handwritten notes and records, providing insight into historical botanical studies.
December 1, 2024 at 7:55 AM