ISU library has acquired rare 15th century dictionary

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WISH) – Indiana State University has acquired a rare 15th century book that will be put on display in the Cunningham Memorial Library’s Cordell Collection.

The newly-acquired book, titled “Vocabularius incipiens teutonicum ante latinum,” was published by Johann Gruninger in 1495.

The extremely rare, unpaginated, hand-numbered “Vocabularius” is considered to be one of the best-known examples of a German-to-Latin dictionary.

David Vancil, curator emeritus of the Cordell Collection, believes that “Vocabularius” was important because it set language, social, and organizational precedents.

It is considered a fine example of 15th century book-making because it bears few blemishes and still includes its original binding.

The Cordell Collection of Dictionaries, Word Books and Philological Texts, which is open to the public, allows people to see centuries-old, printed artifacts.