Princeps Editions from the Collections of the Romanian Academy Library – Cluj-Napoca Office. Debut Volumes

Abstract

The first editions of books authored by the most valuable writers and important personalities of the Romanian and universal science and culture are included in the category of bibliophile books. The princeps editions incorporate a particular value, both in terms of their bibliophilic aspect as well as for the biography and bibliography of a given author. When it comes to literary history and especially the different types of first edition books, whether it is a true first edition, a believed first, a first thus, a first book club and an advanced reader copy, several features may be identified. The authors are usually more invested and involved in the first printing process because it's the first time their work is born and introduced to the world. Moreover, the volume itself may reveal fundamental details on a literary school, on a literary current or on an entire writing era. Our library holds, according to preliminary research, the debut volumes of C. Conachi, I. Vulcan, V. Cârlova, P. Cerna, C. Pavelescu, G. Topârceanu, Al. Philippide, Camil Petrescu, Z. Stancu. The current article will focus on some of those volumes, such as A Collection of the Poems of Mr. D. Bolintineanu [Colecție din poeziile domnului D. Bolintineanu], Poems [Poesii] (M. Eminescu), Poems [Poesii] (O. Goga), Sentimental Songs for Later [Romanțe pentru mai târziu] (I. Minulescu), Native Lowlands [Șesuri natale], (N. Crainic), Poems of Light [Poemele Luminii] (L. Blaga), Right Words. Verses [Cuvinte potrivite. Stihuri] (T. Arghezi), Dark April [Întunecatul april] (Em. Botta). Considering the value and rarity of first editions, the limited number of collections that have in custody such bibliophilic jewels, the inherent loss of physical integrity that develops with the passing of time, it is, with greater reason, the right moment to respect and to preserve the cultural heritage of future generations.