COLLECTION OF INCUNABULA IN THE SCIENTIFIC LIBRARY OF UZHHOROD NATIONAL UNIVERSITY: HISTORY OF FORMATION, STRUCTURE, PRESERVATION

The article highlights the history of one of the oldestcollections of the Scientific Library of Uzhhorod National University – thecollection of incunabula (European printed publications of the second halfof the 15th century), which has great scientific, historic, cultural andspiritual value. Based on archival sources, old library catalogues andworks of researchers of the late 19th - 20th centuries, the article traces thehistory of the collection from the time of the importation of copies of booksto the territory of modern Transcarpathia to the present day. The activities of educational, cultural and religious organizations, as well as prominentpersonalities of Transcarpathia contributed to the formation of aninteresting collection of manuscripts, old prints and rare books, which after1945 replenished the collection of the library of the newly establishedUzhhorod State University. Since then, the library has become the keeperof a unique historical collection of literary monuments on the territory ofTranscarpathia. The vast majority of publications of the 15th century arerepresented by the only copies in Ukraine. The collection of the ScientificLibrary of Uzhhorod National University is the fifth in terms of quantityamong the collections of incunabula in Ukrainian libraries, and the secondafter the Scientific Library of the Ivan Franko National University of Lvivamong university collections. The article analyzes the collection ofincunabula of the university library by subject, authors, place ofpublication, and chronology. It highlights the characteristic features ofEuropean publications of the 15th century which are a transitional linkfrom manuscript to printed books. It also reveals the peculiarities of storingfirst editions in the Scientific Library of Uzhhorod National Universitywhich faces the important task of ensuring the necessary conditions for thelong-term preservation of literary monuments that are part of the Europeancultural heritage and the national heritage of Ukraine.