List of Glagolitic manuscripts (1600–1699)

This entry concerns a listing of extant Glagolitic manuscripts created during the 17th century (1600-1699). Glagolitic script, one of the oldest known Slavic alphabets, was primarily used by Croats in liturgical books and other religious texts, predominantly along the Adriatic coast and islands.

The 17th century represents a period of continued, albeit diminished, production of Glagolitic manuscripts. While the use of Glagolitic was gradually being supplanted by Latin and, in some regions, Cyrillic, it remained a symbol of Croatian cultural and religious identity.

A comprehensive list of all surviving Glagolitic manuscripts from this period is challenging to compile due to the dispersed nature of the manuscripts, which reside in various libraries, archives, and private collections across Europe, particularly in Croatia, Italy (especially Rome and the Vatican Library), and Austria. Furthermore, some manuscripts may remain undiscovered or uncatalogued.

Generally, manuscripts from this period consist of liturgical books such as missals, breviaries, and lectionaries. Some also include paraliturgical texts, theological treatises, or legal documents. The script often exhibits regional variations and stylistic features influenced by Renaissance and Baroque artistic trends.

Notable features to consider when identifying and studying Glagolitic manuscripts from the 17th century include:

• Colophons: Many manuscripts contain colophons, which are inscriptions at the end of the text that provide information about the scribe, the date and place of writing, and sometimes the patron who commissioned the work. These are invaluable for dating and localizing manuscripts.
• Illuminations: While illuminations might be less prevalent than in earlier periods, some manuscripts are decorated with miniatures, initials, and other ornamental elements, reflecting the artistic styles of the time.
• Binding: The bindings can offer clues about the manuscript's provenance and history.
• Paper: Analysis of the paper used can assist in determining the origin and dating of the manuscript.

Researching specific manuscripts requires consulting specialized catalogues, paleographic studies, and digital archives dedicated to Glagolitic heritage. Examples of resources include catalogues of national libraries (e.g., the National and University Library in Zagreb), scholarly publications dedicated to Slavic manuscripts, and online databases of digitized Glagolitic texts. The ongoing process of digitizing and cataloguing these manuscripts is continually enriching our knowledge of Glagolitic culture and literature.