Poland and the Signet Library

The Bibliotheca Polonica is a collection of some 140 historic and important books on Polish history, literature and culture presented to the Signet Library by Count Konstantyn Zamoyski, Professor Lach-Szyrma, Count Sobanski and others in 1821-23. The donation placed a repository of Polish culture and writing in the heart of Scotland, and during the Second World War, when Polish troops in exile guarded much of the Scottish east coast, the collection saw much interest and use, even attracting a visit in 1941 from the President of the Polish Republic. The collection, now housed at the National Library of Scotland, is the subject of a new research effort led by Dr. Kit Baston for the WS Society and Alyssa Popiel (curator of the 2014 A Capital View exhibition of art works of Edinburgh) with a view to the British Council’s 2025 UK/Poland Cultural Season.