La Bibliothèque royale de Belgique , ses doubles, et la vente des doubles de la bibliothèque de Tournai (1871)

A significant portion of Tournai's pre-1800 library collections, including rare and historical documents, was dispersed after the 1940 destruction of its City Library. Today, only scattered duplicates—preserved in Brussels, Mons, or private holdings—offer a glimpse into these lost archives. This study highlights the Royal Library of Belgium’s acquisition of 82 Tournai duplicates in 1871, revealing that many were not mere second copies but irreplaceable patrimonial records. By analyzing surviving fragments and sales records, it reconstructs the scope of Tournai’s lost library heritage while addressing broader challenges of duplicate management across European institutions.

Sorgeloos, C. (2019). La Bibliothèque royale de Belgique , ses doubles, et la vente des doubles de la bibliothèque de Tournai (1871). In Monte Artium, 12, 43–95. https://doi.org/10.1484/j.ima.5.119423