Documentary heritage that represents the collective memory of humanity has been honoured since 1992 by UNESCO in its Memory of the World Programme. There are 15 Austrian nominations among the currently 427 entries in the world register. Eight of these come from the holdings of the Austrian National Library. This means that we look after the country’s largest holding of Memory of the World documents. All of the documents included are unique specimens of incalculable value. Furthermore, the Austrian UNESCO Commission has also been keeping a national list entitled “Memory of Austria” since 2014.
The following documents or collections of the Austrian National Library have been included in the UNESCO world register “Memory of the World” since 1997:
included in 2017
Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) was one of the leading philosophers of the 20th century. The Austrian National Library holds a considerable number of his bequeathed manuscripts, including the original of the Philosophical Investigations (MS 142) and two original typed manuscripts of his famous Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. The majority of his legacy, in terms of quantity, is now in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, and smaller numbers of items are at three other institutions. Link to the catalogue
included in 2013
One of the most important legal documents of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation in a glorious transcription from ca. 1400. Together with the magnificent copy of King Wenzel in the Austrian National Library, all seven originals, two of which in the Austrian State Archive, five in German archives, were featured. Link to the catalogue
included in 2011
Rarer than the Gutenberg bible: the first multicoloured book in the world to be published from 1457. This edition also includes the first imprint in book printing history. Link to the catalogue
included 2007
Street map on parchment: This is the only copy of an ancient map depicting the road network of the Roman Empire dating back to the 12th century. Link to the catalogue
included 2005
One of the most important libraries of the Renaissance: the book collection of the Hungarian king, Matthias Corvinus (1443-1490), 39 volumes of which are in the possession of the Austrian National Library. (Joint submission with Belgium, Germany, France, Italy and Hungary.) Link to the catalogue
included 2003
The most magnificent atlas ever made: 50 volumes with 2,400 coloured maps, city maps, location and landscape surveys, portraits, genre drawings, battle scenes, costumes images and plans of buildings, festivities and triumphal processions from the 17th century. Link to the catalogue
included in 2001
3,000 years of Egyptian history: the collection of 180,000 papyri traceable back to Archduke Rainer is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Link to the catalogue
included in 1997
Pharmacological knowledge from ancient times: the richly illustrated book of medicinal herbs was a gift to a Byzantine princess at the beginning of the 6th century. Link to the catalogue
In 2014, the Austrian UNESCO Commission presented to the public a national list for Austria’s document heritage (Memory of Austria) by way of addition to the world register. The Austrian register, which will be added to in the coming years, currently lists, by way of example, 59 documents and collections of particular importance to the history and culture of Austria. The following 16 submissions of the Austrian National Library are also included here:
Year of inclusion: 2022
Austrian National Library/Department of Manuscripts and Rare Books. Link to UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2018
Austrian National Library/Department of Manuscripts and Rare Books. Link zu UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2016
Austrian National Library/the Literary Archive. Link to UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2016
Austrian National Library/Picture Archives and Graphics Department. Link to UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2016
Austrian National Library/Department of Music. Link to UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2016
Austrian National Library/Map Department. Link to UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2016
Austrian National Library/the Literary Archive. Link to UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2016
Austrian National Library/Department of Manuscripts and Rare Books Zum Archiv
Link to UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2016
Austrian National Library/Picture Archives and Graphics Department. Link to UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2016
Austrian National Library/Map Department. Link to UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2014
Austrian National Library/Department of Music. Link to UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2014
Austrian National Library/Department of Manuscripts and Rare Books. Link to UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2014
Austrian National Library/Picture Archives and Graphics Department. Link to UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2014
Austrian National Library/Department of Manuscripts and Rare Books. Link to UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2014
Austrian National Library/Map Department. Link to UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2016
Institutions: Austrian National Library/Department of Manuscripts and Rare Books & Austrian State Archive. Link to UNESCO
Year of inclusion: 2014
Institutions: Austrian National Library / Archive of Folk Song & Phonogram Archive of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Link to UNESCO
Due to a legally required works meeting, all user facilities of the Austrian National Library (reading rooms at Heldenplatz and collections) will not open until 11.30 a.m. on Thursday, 21 November, 2024.
Please note the opening hours during the holidays.
