Az emlékkönyv-bejegyzések datálásáról

Abstract

This paper explores the dating customs observed in the inscriptions of early modern autograph albums. Such an investigation seems to be crucial because of the different calendar systems employed in Europe in the cited period. Therefore, the meaning of the dates provided alongside inscriptions is not always clear. Most of the examples under scrutiny here are from the albums of two Hungarian students (who were on peregrination in England in the second half of the 17th century), János Mezőlaki and György Martonfalvi. An assessment of the inscriptions written in England revealed that our previous concept about Mezőlaki's peregrination was erroneous, and also that the meaning of the accurately provided inscription dates is highly dependent upon the individual customs of each and every inscriber.