Collection prayer card (6000) - Paper - 1750-1900 - 6000 Prayer Cards 18th-19

A collection of 6000 Netherlandish, Prayer cards or Memorial cards ( bidprentjes), inserted in 22 albums. The collection was started by Mr Theo F. A. Wilbrink from Utrecht, who passed away in 1979. His son, the Dominican brother, Nico. G.T. Wilbrink O.P., who was the librarian of the Albertinum Convent in Nijmegen, went on with the collection. He inserted the collection of 6.000 prayer cards in 22 albums and numbered all 6000 devotion cards. On each album are the numbers of prayer cards that are in that album. He also made two catologues for persons who want to do research in the collection. The one is a book with all the dates of passing away of all the 6000 persons and the number of the corresponding prayer card. The second is a set of 6 card index boxes in which all the deceased can be found in alphabetical order with their date of birth, date of death, and the number of the prayercard. This very well preserved and documented collection is a goldmine for people who want research popular devotion, genealogy, local folklore etc. A little know fact is that the habit of making prayer cards ( bid prentjes) started in Amsterdam in the 17th century in the environment of hidden Roman Cstholic churches.( schuilkerken). The collection is sold for charity and will benefit the marginalized in Nigeria.