On 28 October at 17:15, the exhibition “Bibliophile Peeter Tulviste” opens at the University of Tartu Library, showcasing the academician’s passion for collecting books. At the same event, the Ilmamaa publishing house presents its collection of Tulviste’s articles Mõtelda ning mõista.
Peeter Tulviste was one of the most diverse book collectors in Tartu and in Estonia. According to the curator of the exhibition Tõnu Kollo, the total length of Tulviste’s bookshelves exceeded 200 metres, which held nearly 15,000 publications. For the exhibition, Kollo divided these into fourteen topics. Kollo believes visitors can expect to see surprising combinations. “Alongside works glorifying socialism, one may discover rare 19th-century items, and books on university history sit side by side with psychology textbooks. Books adorned with illustrations by Estonian artists such as Eduard Wiiralt, Kristjan Raud, Addo Vabbe, Märt Laarman and others are also displayed,” said Kollo.
The exhibition also features rarities, including Uku Masing’s handwritten poetry collection Džunglilinnud (Jungle Birds), a folder titled “MM 3EX” containing three large-format ex-libris designs by Lembit Lepp, and a German-language book printed in St Petersburg in 1780 about Catherine the Great’s visit to Narva. The latter is believed to be the only known copy in Estonia.
In addition to books, Tulviste also collected maps, ten of which are included in the current exhibition.
The exhibition will be designed by Maarja Roosi and will remain open until 14 March 2026. The exhibition texts have been translated into English and can be accessed by scanning the QR codes next to the Estonian texts.
