Vincenz Hasak

Historian, b. at Neustadt, near Friedland, Bohemia, 18 July, 1812; d. 1 September, 1889, as dean of Weisskirchlitz, near Teplitz. After completing his classical and theological studies at Leitmeritz, he became chaplain at Arnsdorf, a post he held for eighteen years. Thenceforth to his death he was pastor at Weisskirchlitz. While chaplain, he began to collect old books, paintings, and copper-plate engravings, also gems and shells. He succeeded in collecting a small but valuable museum, that excited the astonishment of all connoisseurs for the treasures it contained. His library attained to especial celebrity because of the copious collection of rare early printed books, e.g. the ten pre-Reformation German translations of the Bible . He also made a scientific use of his treasures, and wrote several books about them, notable contributions in his day to the knowledge of medieval German religious life and the German language. Especially worthy of mention are: "Der christliche Glaube des deutschen Volkes beim Schluss des Mittelalters" (Ratisbon, 1868), a very valuable and authoritative work, treating of ninety-three printed books and manuscripts ; "Dr. M. Luther und die religiöse Literatur seiner Zeit bis zum Jahre 1520)" (Ratisbon, 1881), a documentary description of the religious and moral conditions of the Middle Ages ; also: "Die Himmelstrasse" (Ratisbon, 1882); and "Die letzte Rose, oder Eklärung des Vater Unser nach Markus von Weida" (Ratisbon, 1883), "Ein Vergissmeinnicht oder Von der heiligen Messe" (Ratisbon, 1884); finally, "Herbstblumen, oder christlicher Volksunterricht in der vorreformatorischen Zeit" (Ratisbon, 1885).