Over the course of its long history, numerous books, manuscripts, and other collection items have found their way to the Göttingen University Library via various—and sometimes convoluted—routes. Traces of these changes in ownership have frequently been preserved within the volumes themselves. Ownership marks, name inscriptions, bookplates, stamps, handwritten dedications, and more bear witness to a book's origins and history.
Recording and cataloging these features forms a vital foundation for provenance research—the study of the origins and ownership history of books, media, and artworks. This research is significant not only for understanding the transmission history of individual items and the history of the holding institution but also for opening up new avenues of inquiry: for instance, provenance markers allow for the reconstruction of libraries or book collections that were dispersed long ago. They provide insights into the trade networks and flows of goods characterizing the early book trade and shed light on the reading and usage habits of past eras. In the context of research into Nazi-looted art and cultural property, provenance markers serve as clues for tracing injustices committed in the past.
The SUB Göttingen provenance database records provenance markers found in the library’s holdings, spanning from the Middle Ages to the modern era. New entries are added on an ongoing basis. In addition to basic and advanced search options, various indexes are available to facilitate searches based on specific types of provenance markers or the individuals associated with them.