On 22 September 1945, one of the Soviet trophy committees confiscated the most valuable manuscripts, books, bindings and prints in the German Museum of Books and Writing’s collection; these had been moved to Rauenstein Castle for safety during the war. A large part of this unique collection was taken to Moscow and housed in what is now the Russian National Library.

The German National Library and the Russian National Library have now concluded a cooperative agreement regarding the displaced items; this will bring the collections in Moscow and Leipzig together in virtual form. This new project, which got under way in 2020, will open up digital access to this unique collection. These bibliophilic treasures – which include for example a Franciscan gradual dating from the 14th century – will be made accessible through the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek (German Digital Library).

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Open page in the Gutenberg bible, Leipzig provenance

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: Gutenberg bible, Leipzig provenance …