The first "Kobzar" by Taras Shevchenko

"Books have their destiny" - this saying belongs to the ancient Roman thinker and grammarian Terence the Moor, who lived in the II century. n. е. In spite of the author's remoteness in time from our present, His statement is quite aptly reflecting the specifics of book research, Because every book is a miniature universe. This is especially true about ancient books. They are sources not only artistic images, ideas or knowledge, but also the important witnesses of our past. Матеріали, прикраси, inscriptions and designations, The content of the book - all this allows you to know the person of the past and his everyday life.

Ukrainian language and literature have an ancient, Often thorny, But a bright story. And in it a significant place belongs to Taras Shevchenko's work. The first printed edition of the works of a prominent Ukrainian took place in a distant 1840 year, тобто 183 years ago. After that, 26-year-old Taras gained recognition as talented and, навіть, The brilliant poet. The first collection was called "Kobzar" and it is not surprising, for kobzars were the singers of the national word, carriers of Ukrainian national historical consciousness and identity. Тарас Шевченко, peasant, obviously, had deep respect for the “elders”. In addition, in his work, along with Cossack literary images, Kobzar-Liabers were mandatory, who in their songs gave up behind the Cossack past, When the Ukrainians had a "will of the holiday". Although we are used to, that modern "kobzar" is a fairly thick book with a large number of works of the poet, однак, The first assembly was small in size (118 х 167 мм) and consisted of only eight works (“My thoughts, My thoughts ”, “Perendy”, Catherine, "Topol", "Opinion", "To Osnovyanenko", Ivan Podkova, Tarasova Night).

The history of its publication and distribution is quite dramatic and even tragic. She was censored, was forbidden and even destroyed. The first "kobzar" has been published in a private printing house is. Fisher in St. Petersburg. To our time with 1000 copies of the first collection, printed in 1840 year, only a few copies have been preserved. After Taras Shevchenko's arrest at 1847 The year existing editions of Kobzar were banned and ordered to be removed from libraries, книгарень, private collections of individual citizens, that made them rare during the author's life.

One of these first prints also got into Vasyl Tarnovsky's collection-a sincere supporter and friend of Taras Shevchenko, who helped him with his father in the publication of works and supported on the thorny life path. It was Vasyl Tarnovsky that the largest collection of memory related to Taras Grigorovich's life and work was preserved in Ukraine. She later formed the basis of the Shevchenkivsky Department of the Museum of Ukrainian Antiquities Vasyl Tarnovsky and was presented for the visit of visitors, Until in the 1930s, the vast majority of it was transferred to the Institute of Literature IM. Т. Shevchenko in Kharkiv. Among the valuable things were books from a library collection in. Tarnovsky with the works of a prominent Ukrainian poet, particular, A rare collection 1840 year.

This copy is interesting, that before the collection of the founder of the museum he got from the library of historian, writer and public figure Danylo Mordovets (1830-1905), who bought it, most likely, ще у 1854 year. This is evidenced by the signature of the writer on the back of the sheet with the frontsis, which depicts Vasyl Sternberg's etching "Kobzar with the guide". On the sheet is indicated “No. 184. D. Mordovtsev. SPb. 1854.». The question arises: As the book was in the library in. In. Tarnovsky? And now it's a secret. However, there is a fully justified assumption, that d. Mordovets presented in. Tarnowski is this book, for both were sincere connoisseurs of the poet's work. But remains an open question: where and when it happened? We have the memories of Danylo Lukich about, that Taras Shevchenko gave him "for a good forgetful for a few ... his" decorated "drawings, which I then in the 90th, perhaps, The year passed to the Ukrainian Museum of Vasily Tarnovsky's immortal memory, And he brought me a beautiful Taras portrait for me for these gifts, What still fun my Cossack hut in carpentry corner ”. These memories attest to the fact, that d. Mordovets and founder of the museum exchanged objects related to a prominent Ukrainian in the 1990s of the nineteenth century. In accordance, Kobzar could get to Vasyl Tarnovsky's library at this time. There is also another version, that the book was handed over in 1899-1901 after the death of a well -known patron to the museum of his name. In any case, the book is listed in the Shevchenkiana section in the Catalog of Printed Books of the Museum of Ukrainian Antiquity in. In. Tarnovsky ", created in 1901 The year of Grinchenko's spouses. It is interesting, that later, After the death of D.. Mordovets in 1907 year, part of his archive was transferred to the museum's funds.

Among the features of the book is the presence of handwritten at the end of the collection, written by an unknown person on the spelling of the twentieth century. and library marks of Boris Grinchenko and Chernihiv Historical Museum. В.В.Тарновського. The book is referred in a binding with a brown leather root with a golden embossing of floral ornament, The name of the book with the author's name, Framed with marble paper black and yellow with red dots. Most likely it was managed in order to order one of the owners, For the initially the book had a soft paper cover of blue. It is now stored in Fund No. 1 Department of Funds and Textology of the Institute of Literature. Т. T. Shevchenko NAS of Ukraine in Kiev.

Researcher of the museum,

Candidate of Historical Sciences Valentin Rebenok