002.461.Idrija

Idrija Municipal Museum, Prelovčeva 9, SI-5280 Idrija

Public

Municipality of Idrija, Mestni trg 1, SI-5280 Idrija

Professional Library of Idrija Municipal Museum, M-79

Mine, Knowledge, social care

The guest book has green hardcovers. The book title on the cover is written in German language in a combination of majuscule and minuscule. FREMDENBUCH der k. k. Quecksilber hütte zu IDRIA. The cover is decorated with a gold frame in the Secession style. It has a mining symbol of a hammer and chisel impressed on the top of the page and the Idrija municipality’s coat-of-arms under it. At the bottom of the page is a Secession ornament – a woman who is blowing a trumpet and holding a wreath in her right hand. The bottom edge of the cover has an almost unnoticeable engraving: FR. CINIBURK, KNJIGOVEZ IDRIJA. The pages are not numbered. Only less than one third of the book is filled. The entries in the guest book cover the period between 1907 and 1917. Some of the names in the guest book are important names of state and country politicians, intellectuals and mining officials. The entire page, usually illustrated and richly decorated with Secession decorations, is dedicated to the most important visitors. After the opening of the Isonzo Front in May 1915 there were many entries of military formations. The last entry is dated on 24 April 1917, when the members of the Royal Prague National Theatre on the Front signed in.

Length 30.5 cm, width 20.2 cm, height 1.9 cm.

Paper, cardboard.

1917

Imperial Royal Mining Directorate Idrija.

Idrija Mercury Mine attracted visitors for centuries. The visitors were initially mostly travellers and researchers (Sigmund Sisserus, Walter Pope, Edward Brown and others). According to the available data, a tour of the mine pit was available for general public from the other half of the 19th century onwards. The preserved photographs of the former mining doctor Milan Papež of the time when the mine had prepared special (tourist) mining clothing for the Mine’s visitors, are a proof of that.

The memory book is being preserved, secured and presented as important mining heritage of Idrija with exceptional universal values. It is kept in the collection of library material (in analogue and digital form). It is available for researchers and the wider interested public. It can be used for mercury heritage promotions. It enables us an insight and understanding of the initial period of research of Idrija pit by the general public. The signatures of the established global researchers and statesmen in the memorial book prove the wide meaning of Idrija Mercury Mine at the beginning of the 20th century.

Imperial Royal Mining Directorate Idrija.

Professional Library of Idrija Municipal Museum.

The book is well preserved. Additional interventions are not necessary. Security of the premises is ensured.

good

Regular seasonal maintenance.

- Inventory Book of the Idrija Municipal Museum library.

Mestni muzej Idrija

Miha Kosmač

20. 3. 2018

Never