Collection
Ponickau Collection
The library of Johann August von Ponickau (1718–1802), Privy Councillor for War, is one of the core historical collections of Wittenberg University Library.
Even during his lifetime, Ponickau bequeathed his private library to the University of Wittenberg. His library consisted mainly of printed works on the cultural and regional history of Central Germany, as well as primary sources such as charters, seals and manuscripts.
Following the merger of the Universities of Wittenberg and Halle, the printed works remained together and were housed separately, all in accordance with the provisions of the founder’s will.
Whilst the „Bibliotheca Saxonica“ contains literature on regional matters, culture and history of Central Germany, the „Bibliotheca Miscellanea“ encompasses all other fields of knowledge within the scholarly world of the 18th century, thus serving as a perfect representation of a small, self-contained universal library inspired by the spirit of the Enlightenment. Whilst the „Bibliotheca Saxonica“ was systematically expanded until 1965 through the acquisition of publications on the history, geography and culture of Central Germany, the „Bibliotheca Miscellanea“ was only supplemented sporadically during the 19th and 20th centuries.
The collection of small manuscripts, almost in its entirety, also originated with Ponickau himself. It is considered to be of great importance for research, as it contains numerous unique items and rarities from the 16th to the 18th centuries, particularly in the field of occasional writings such as official publications, speeches, sermons, dissertations, colporteur literature, tracts, ordinances and so-called „grey literature“. The graphics collection The ULB’s collection also originated from the Ponickau Collection.
The titles of printed books and all digitised materials belonging to this specific collection can be searched for in Ha:Lit and OPAC.
There is a handwritten catalogue listing the manuscripts, which has already been digitised.
The deeds are recorded in the handwritten, classified catalogue (sheets 179–197).
The prints in the collection are not yet available for research online, so if you are interested, please contact historische-sammlungen@bibliothek.uni-halle.de.