Researchers have discovered 27 books owned by the brothers Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm in the library of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland.
The volumes range in date of origin from the 15th century to the second half of the 19th century, and include "rare prints and unique editions," the researchers wrote in a recent article. The books also contain handwritten notes which may shed light on the brothers' research and working methods.
Originally studying law, the Brothers Grimm later developed an interest in history and philology. This compelled them to record folktales, which they then published in 1812 in the collection, Children's and Household Tales, more commonly known by the title, Grimms' Fairy Tales. The brothers' work led to the popularization of such stories "Little Red Riding Hood," "Cinderella," "Town Musicians of Brehmen," and "Rumpelstiltskin."
In their research, the brothers amassed a private library of 8,000 books, which Wilhelm's son, Hermann, left to the Berlin University Library upon his death. While many of the volumes remain there, a large portion was donated to the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Bibliothek in Poznań in 1898. Many more were shipped out of Berlin in the Second World War to protect them from Allied bombing.
Deemed lost until they resurfaced, the 27 books were rediscovered by professor Eliza Pieciul-Karmińska and AMU librarian Renata Wilgosiewicz-Skutecka, aided by romance language professor and researcher Anna Loba. The trio combed through the AMU's extensive library for nearly six months, referencing lists by German librarian Ludwig Denecke and professor Wieslaw Wydra.
"The very fact that they have been found allows us to believe that the book collections at the Library can hold other volumes that belonged to the private book collection of Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm," the researchers wrote. Pieciul-Karminska also intends to expand her search, and will join professor Holger Ehrhardt of the University Kassel find more of the Brothers' lost books in other libraries.
