About the library of count Alexandru Sturdza

The collection of old books numbering 203 unities from the former library of Alexandru Sturdza has been transferred to the National Library of the Republic of Moldova from the Regional Library from Odessa. All the books bear the seal „Стурдзовская библиотека” and is undoubtedly the main corpse Sturza family's former library. Our research pursued investigating only issues referring to completion degree, methods of acquisition, principles of book selection, content and impact of book knowledge on forming social-political, cultural-religious and philosophic ideas of count Alexandru Sturdza (1791-1854) and his father Scarlat Sturdza. A part of books covered with leather have an owner mark with golden initials „CH.CZ.” deeply imprinted on the upper left corner. We presume that this abbreviation is the name Charles Stourdza which is an expression in French of the Greek name Scarlat, as all the books with this marking are printed (and acquired) before Alexandru Sturza' birth. The possessors of the books didn't make many marginal signs and therefore we cannot establish exactly whom each book belonged, but it is logical to assume that the library has been passed on from generation to generation within Studrza family.