Gruber’s mathematical -physics books

Abstract

The most important literati of Ljubljana in the time of suppression of Jesuit Society were Gabriel Gruber and the rector Anton Ambschell. For the Society of Agriculture and Useful Arts both men signed their own collection of physics-mathematical books: Gruber noted all his acquisitions with usually undated bookplates of his chair Zur Mechanik. It looks like he wished to smooth up our present search of his purchases in modern Ljubljana National and University Library. Both man added to their book catalogue a great list of instruments needed for physics experiments which we describe in separate article. The research puts in the limelight the characteristics of books noted above the signatures of both famous former Jesuits which is not always the easiest task because of incomplete notes of titles or authors without any notions on year or publishers. Gruber desired the books and got almost all of them for his chair of mechanics. His bookplates Zur Mechanik on title pages in modern Ljubljana National and University Library testify his acquistions. On the other hand Ambschell as the leading expert together with the representative of Ljubljana district office, the Baron Karl Gall von Gallenstein, signed the list of 25 expert books off Society of Agriculture and Useful Arts, most of them from three decades earlier acquisitions of the deceased Jesuit Bernard Ferdinand Erberg. The contents of books tell us much about the scientific interests of both men, Gruber and Ambschell. They were closely related until they left Ljubljana forever almost in the same time of Josef II when any persistence in the resentful milieu of Carniola capital was unprofitable for the one day powerful members of now suppressed Jesuit order.