The Groningen Collection

In 1933 A.G. Roos published a selection of 22 papyri from the Special Collections of the University Library in Groningen (P.Gron.). The collection was acquired on the market in Egypt by Schubart, with funds donated by an alumnus of Groningen University, M. Enschedé.[1] Schubart brought home 7 lots that year, of which he recommended lot II for Groningen as a good basis. Lot V was purchased by Uppsala.[2] The papyri, 127 numbered sets of fragments in total, were originally glassed by Hugo Ibscher, and two of his original mounts were still in place in early 2024. In 2011, Machteld van der Feltz was tasked with assessing the conservation status of the papyri, and remounting them if necessary. She followed Ibscher’s lead in mounting large numbers of fragments together, and mounting the pieces on japanese tissue, obscuring some of the backs. In 2024-2025, De Kreij remounted the fragments published here if their reverse sides were not visible, and undertook minor conservation where required. De Kreij also removed the papyri from the last of Ibscher’s mounts, for the same reasons.


[1] As reported by Roos in the introduction to P.Gron., p. iii.
[2] This is confirmed by the description matching Uppsala University Library, Pap.Gr. 8 (published in Björk 1938, now Suppl.Mag. II 59); see also P.Ups.Frid. introduction, p. v.