Sensational find in Germany: previously unknown copy of Francysk Skaryna's rarest "Psalter" from 1522 discovered

Binding and title page of the Vilnius edition of Francysk Skaryna's "Psalter" from 1522, discovered in the Duchess Anna Amalia Library. Photo: Volha Shutava

The discovery took place in November 2025 during work with the CERL database of European research libraries, as Volha Shutava writes in a recent article in the publication "Slavistica Vilnensis."

The researcher noticed a peculiar entry in the Weimar library's catalog. It listed a book with the title: "Poc̆inaet’sja Psalŭtyŕ ili Pesni stgo proroka boz̆ija Davyda Care Erusalimŭska. [Dokonana est psaltyŕ sie … poveleniem … Franciska Skoriny iz Poloćka".

The catalog marked it as "Rarissimum" (of greatest rarity) and attributed it to Skaryna's Prague edition of 1517.

However, Volha Shutava noticed an inconsistency: the title provided in the catalog precisely matched not the Prague edition, but the Vilnius "Psalter" of 1522, which is part of the famous "Small Travel Book."

Павялічыць

Interior of the Duchess Anna Amalia Library in Weimar. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

To verify her hypothesis, the researcher traveled to Weimar. Her assumption was fully confirmed: before her lay an original, previously unknown to science copy of Skaryna's Vilnius edition of 1522.

The error of the German librarians, most likely, arose from an old pencil inscription on the reverse side of the binding, where someone left a note: "Psalmi [kirshenslav.] [Prag 1517]: Francisk Skorina". Additionally, in the catalog, the printer's name was mistakenly recorded as "Georgi," a name heavily emphasized during the Russian Empire and Soviet times to substantiate the "Russianness" of the first printer. The incorrectness of the name Georgi has long been proven by Skaryna scholars, but archivists in Germany might not have been aware of this.

Павялічыць

Title page of the Vilnius edition of Francysk Skaryna's "Psalter" from 1522, discovered in the Duchess Anna Amalia Library. Photo: Volha Shutava

Fifth copy in the world

This is a truly significant event for Belarusian and European book culture. Today, only four similar copies of the "Psalter" from 1522 are known in Western European countries: they are preserved in Cambridge, London, Copenhagen, and Ljubljana. The Weimar copy has become the fifth.

There are, however, even rarer Skaryna editions, for example, the Prague "Psalter" of 1517 — only two copies of it are known in the world, and both are in Moscow.

Trials by fire and water

The Weimar "Psalter" is printed in octavo format. The book has 140 leaves.

Despite its venerable age, the copy has been preserved in good condition, although it has endured serious trials. In 2004, a severe fire occurred at the Duchess Anna Amalia Library.

Павялічыць

Consequences of the fire that occurred in 2004 at the Duchess Anna Amalia Library in Weimar. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Skaryna's book was saved from the fire but suffered from water during extinguishing efforts. Traces of moisture are particularly noticeable on the last pages. In 2009, the edition underwent thorough restoration.

Павялічыць

Binding of the Vilnius edition of Francysk Skaryna's "Psalter" from 1522, discovered in the Duchess Anna Amalia Library. Photo: Volha Shutava

Of particular note is the book's leather binding, which experts tentatively date to the 16th century. It is decorated with embossing and gilding. On the front cover, within a frame of floral ornament, there is an image of King David with a lyre (or psalter). On the back, there is a heraldic image. The clasps on the book have not been preserved — they were likely removed during past restorations.

Павялічыць

Binding of the Vilnius edition of Francysk Skaryna's "Psalter" from 1522, discovered in the Duchess Anna Amalia Library. Photo: Volha Shutava

Павялічыць

Binding of the Vilnius edition of Francysk Skaryna's "Psalter" from 1522, discovered in the Duchess Anna Amalia Library. Photo: Volha Shutava

Mysteries of past owners

Who held this book before it came to Germany? Several intriguing inscriptions have been preserved on the binding.

At the top right, someone wrote "Psalter Slavon" (Slavic Psalter) in pencil, and to the left, in the same handwriting, the word "Polotzk" (Polotsk) — Skaryna's hometown — is written and crossed out.

There is also an older ink inscription, dated February 1678. It indicates that at that time the book belonged to a man named David Caspar Sluiÿs.

The book has been in the collections of the Weimar library for centuries. The first record of it appears in the library catalog around 1754.

What's inside

The content and design of the Weimar copy fully correspond to the classic description of Skaryna's editions. It opens with a title page featuring a characteristic Renaissance ornamental headpiece.

The text is printed using red color. At the bottom of the page, Skaryna's printer's marks can be seen: on the left – the symbol of the sun and moon, on the right – a triangle with a Calvary cross.

Павялічыць

One of the leaves of the Vilnius edition of Francysk Skaryna's "Psalter" from 1522, discovered in the Duchess Anna Amalia Library. Photo: Volha Shutava

In total, the book contains 75 beautiful engraved headpieces and 164 initials (large letters) of three different sizes. The book concludes with a colophon (afterword) identical to the one found in the Copenhagen copy.

What's next

The discovery of the fifth Western European copy of the "Psalter" from 1522 is just the beginning of the work. As Volha Shutava notes, much research still lies ahead. It is necessary to find out how the Old Belarusian edition came to Thuringia, who its owners were before 1678, and why the word "Polotsk" was written on it.

The researcher is already working jointly with the management of the Duchess Anna Amalia Library to uncover all the mysteries of this unique monument of Belarusian book heritage.

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