With this collection, the founder of the library aims to make available the manuscripts and printed works in the field of the Hermetic-Christian tradition. The collection offers a wealth of information for the study of this spiritual tradition, which has exerted a notable influence in the course of our era; for instance in 2nd-century Alexandria (Gnostic movements), in the thirteenth century (European mysticism), in the second half of the fifteenth century in Italy (revival of interest in Hermetic philosophy) and in the first half of the seventeenth century in Germany (Rosicrucians and theosophical movements).
The library became an established institution in 1984 and a building was opened to accommodate the modern collections and a reading area. The library has a small staff in Amsterdam to manage the collections and assist readers. In addition to making available its resources to the interested public, the library aims to document the Hermetic-Christian tradition by publishing exhibition catalogues and text editions via its own publishing house 'In de Pelikaan', and by conducting research projects. As a rule, there are exhibitions of works from the library's own collections at the library's visiting address.
Prof. Dr F.A. Janssen
Director Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica
More information on the collections of the J.R. Ritman Library