When we visit museums, we rarely become aware of when, why, and by whom the collections found their way into the museum's holdings, or what previous histories the objects bring with them. These are highly topical questions in view of the intense debate on restitution. This publication tells the history of the museum from the perspective of the origins of its holdings - uncovering layers of origin with their coincidences, surprises, and concepts in an exemplary manner and assembling them not only into a new kind of museum history, but also into a history of the reception of cultural heritage. At the same time, this new perspective represents a break with conventional institutional historiography, as it undermines traditional narratives of a conceptually consistent and purposeful inventory construction. The uncompleted is the motto: an invitation to take up the challenge of constantly looking at cultural assets anew.
Founded in 1884, the DEUTSCHE BUCH- UND SCHRIFTMUSEUM of the German National Library in Leipzig is considered the world's oldest and, with over one million objects, one of the most important museums in the field of book culture and media history.