The materiality of books in the domestic sphere of the Galician elites at the end of the Early Modern Age

Abstract

This paper aims to study the libraries of the elites in Galicia at the end of the Ancien Régime from the point of view of the material culture in which these cultural objects were integrated. Thus, we will study the presence of books in the urban and rural residences of ecclesiastics, men of law, nobles, merchants and women. Following the contributions of Jean Quéniart, we will measure the size of the libraries, from small groups with less than one hundred books to large libraries that exceeded 300 volumes. Likewise, we will focus our attention on the price, format and binding of books to identify the most valued books in economic terms such as liturgical books, dictionaries and richly illustrated volumes. Finally, we will delve into the relationship between books and the rooms and domestic furniture in which they were kept and used.