#Exhibit of the Month

January 2024

Mihai Eminescu: volumes of works from the NMHM collection

On January 15, in tribute to the birthday of the great poet Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889), the Republic of Moldova celebrates the National Day of Culture. In the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova there are several materials related to the name of the illustrious Romanian poet and prose writer, such as books, paintings, medals, coins, philately pieces and cartophile, etc. On this occasion, we present to the public two volumes signed by Mihai Eminescu, representing the author's oldest editions from our book collection.

The first book entitled "Political and literary writings: original manuscripts and collections from newspapers and magazines" vol. 1: 1870-1877 - XXXV, 451 p. was published in Bucharest in 1905. The cover is original, made of paper. On the forced sheet there is a stamp with the text: "Gheorghe Papaghiuc Library. Iasi". On the verso title page: "Publishing Institute of Graphic Arts "Minerva". On page V-XXXV, introduction signed by Ion Scurtu, dated Bucharest, June 10, 1905". Of the planned edition in 3 volumes, only volume 1 appeared (laudatory articles in the press of the time). On the back cover, the list of books published in the collection of the Library of Romanian Writers, classic authors and modern authors was placed.

The second book is "Complete Works. Poems - Short stories - Novel - Theater - Thoughts - Writings: Literary, Economic, Political and Philosophical - Letters - Critique of pure reason by Kant" with a preface and an introductory study by A. C. Cuza, Iași 1914: edited by Librăria Românească / Ioan V. Voinescu and N. Georgescu - Institute of Graphic Arts N.V. Ștefănescu & Co.: Ștefan cel Mare street, no. 38.

Three illustrations representing Mihai Eminescu at different ages are inserted in the volume: M. Eminescu after a photograph from 1879-1880 (between pages 184-185); M. Eminescu after a photo from the years 1884-1885 (between pages 344-345) and the photo of M. Eminescu from the age of 20, which is missing in our volume.

Alexandru C. Cuza (1857-1947), who signed the preface and the introductory study of the volume, was a professor of political economy at the University of Iași, a contemporary of Mihai Eminescu whom he knew. Because of the political activity of A.C. Cuza, one of the founders of the far-right movement in Romania, known for its extremism and anti-semitism, the 1914 edition was banned in 1948. Many copies of this edition were destroyed in the early years of the communist regime.