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University of Padua
University Library System
University Library System
ITA

Books

The library holds around 20 thousand modern books (published after 1830) and almost 25 thousand ancient books (year of publication from 1450 to 1830).

The library's collection is divided into two main sections, the History of Medicine section and the Botany section.

The History of Medicine section preserves the original bequest of Vincenzo Pinali and various other funds donated by professors from the Padua Medical School, such as:

  • Fondo Ducceschi: approximately 2000 books, pamphlets, and manuscripts donated by Virgilio Ducceschi (1871-1952) physiologist, historian of medicine and science, and collector of antique books of medical and scientific interest. More information on the Ducceschi Fund.
  • Fondo Fanzago: numerous rare and valuable works from the end of the 14th century to the 19th century donated by the family of Francesco Luigi Fanzago (1764-1836) pathologist, forensic scientist, and founder of the Cabinet of Pathology, known for his studies on pellagra and the grafting of cowpox. More information on the Fanzago Fund. 
  • Fondo Malacarne: volumes from the 16th to the 19th century donated after 1888 by the heirs of Tito Vanzetti (1809-1888), Professor of Surgical Clinic at the University of Kharkiv, as well as Professor of Surgical Clinic in Padua, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine (1860-1866) and Rector (1864). More information on the Malacarne Fund.
  • Fondo De Giovanni: about 3000 volumes, periodicals, and pamphlets from the 16th to the early 20th century, with a great prevalence of works from the 19th century. Originally owned by Achille De Giovanni (1838-1916), Professor of Medical Clinic at the University of Padua in 1878, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine (1885-1896), Rector (1896-1900) of the University of Padua, and Senator of the Kingdom of Italy (1902-1916).
  • Fondo Tebaldi: books and pamphlets from the 18th to the 19th century owned by Augusto Tebaldi (1833-1895), graduated in medicine in Padua and surgery in Genoa, then professor of psychiatry and forensic medicine in Padua.
  • Fondo Badaloni: about 250 books and pamphlets from the end of the 19th to the middle of the 20th century, donated to the library in 1946, owned by Nicola Badaloni (1854-1945), a medical doctor in Trecenta in Polesine from 1878, lecturer at the Universities of Perugia and Naples and senator.
  • Fondo Lindemann: transferred to the NAL in 2018. 

The ancient Botany Section hosts the collections and legacies of the prefects who have succeeded one another at the helm of the Botanical Garden:

  • Fondo Marsili: manuscripts, printed texts, incunabula, and editio princeps, collections of illustrated prints, belonging to Giovanni Marsili (1727-1795), prefect of the Botanical Garden from 1760 to 1793. More information on the Marsili Collection.
  • Fondo Bonato: a collection that, together with that of Marsili, constitutes the initial nucleus of the Botanical Garden Library. Antonio Bonato was prefect of the Botanical Garden of Padua from 1794 to 1835.
  • Fondo Saccardo: mycological book collection consisting of 304 monographic volumes and 215 miscellaneous books belonging to Pier Andrea Saccardo (1867-1920), prefect of the Botanical Garden from 1879 to 1915.
  • Forti and Trotter Miscellany Collection: composed of the Forti Algological Library (about 8000 extracts regarding algology in the last century and about 400 volumes including the most important works of algology) and the Trotter Cecidological Miscellany (about 2000 extracts collected in miscellanies divided by author and about 55 works on galls).
  • Fondo De Visiani: the botanist and man of letters Roberto De Visiani (1800-1878) left his personal library and archive to the Botanical Garden and the Civic Museum of Padua upon his death. The library section at the garden is dedicated to science and the archive contains documentation and correspondence mostly of an academic and professional nature, as well as a nucleus of documents relating to the administration of family property from the mid-18th century. More information on the De Visiani Fund.

There is also a collection of more than 170 manuscripts dating from the end of the 14th century to the 20th century, 9 incunabula, and over 600 sixteenth-century books.

The Modern Botany Section contains books and journals published after 1900 and is devoted to botany, and flora in various ecosystems and geographical areas, with a special focus on mycology. It also deals with plants with their use in medicine, food, popular culture, and tradition. Space is given to the history of gardening and the garden. Given the importance of the history section, many works are related to ancient books, their preservation, cataloguing, and digitisation. In particular, texts on scientific and botanical illustration are preserved.

 

You are asked to inform the library in advance which volumes you would like to consult, since, due to removal works, some materials may not be immediately available.