Manuscripts, Archives and Letters Coptic words in Pallas’ Universal dictionary The Coptic collection in the Leiden University Libraries throws light on the way a Prussian scholar compiled a ‘universal dictionary’ for a Russian Empress in a time that comparative linguistics was still in its infancy. Vincent Wintermans • 13-04-2026
Manuscripts, Archives and Letters Blame it on the mailman: Nietzsche and the Vossianus Graecus 18 Did you know Friedrich Nietzsche is among the past users of Leiden University Library? Two letters from the famous philosopher give a fascinating glimpse of his early activities as a budding philologist. They also tell us a surprising story of ‘interlibrary loan’ in the nineteenth century. Marjolein van Zuylen • 18-11-2025
Prints, Drawings and Portraits Dogs in the library (1610). A team for utility and entertainment Dogs were a much-loved subject in early modern prints. On the oldest depiction of the Leiden University Library, a print from 1610 after design by Jan Cornelisz Woudanus (ca. 1565-1615) two dogs are visible in the foreground, and not without purpose. Other Library Staff • 06-04-2021
Manuscripts, Archives and Letters Book burning in Louvain, 1914 Louvain was destroyed by German troops at the end of August. More than 200 civilians were shot, and a thousand manuscripts, eight hundred incunables and 300,000 books went up in flames. André Bouwman • 29-08-2014
