One of the most valuable collections of the Ruse Library is the personal collection of Acad. Mihail Arnaudov. The book collection is separated into an individual fund under the name of “Mihail Arnaudov Fund”. More than 7,000 author's manuscripts, books, periodicals, photographs are an evidence of the monolithic work of the outstanding scientist, of his scientific interests, intellectual and social contacts with scientists, writers, activists of Bulgarian and European culture. Undoubtedly, the central place in the library is taken by the books and articles, marked with numerous handwritten notes, additions, text corrections. They are of bibliographic and reference nature, they specify the history of the editions or the biographies of their authors.

Acad. Arnaudov makes an interesting parallel between Lyuben Karavelov, Zahari Stoyanov and Ivan Vazov in his important book on the life and work of Lyuben Karavelov, published in 1964 by the Institute of Literature at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The copy of the first edition preserved in the collection bears on the front page the signature of Arnaudov and the note: “I copy. 29 May 1964”. Writing about Karavelov’s “extremes in disputes” and of his “poisoned arrows”, he makes a compatison with another “master of pamphlets in Bulgaria, such as Zahariy Stoyanov” calling him “Karavelov's congenial disciple”.

Further down in the text, Acad. Arnaudov quotes Ivan Vazov, who in his novel “New Land” (chapter “Markovo Knee”) points out: “this historic shepherd […] had the terrible power of popular language that captivates the crowd and seals itself in memory as deeply as striking and meaner it is… The first edition of the novel “New Land. A novel for the life of Bulgarians during the first seven years after the Liberation at 7 hrs” of 1896 is also part of the collection. The book has many underlinings in the text and notes on the empty spaces, including on Zahari Stoyanov.

The valuable collection comprises three books by Dzhendo, the oldest of which is the “April Uprising”, published in 1917 by the headquarters of the active army in Sofia within the “Marching Soldier Library” series. The next book was published in 1940 in Sofia – “The Bands in Bulgaria of Filip Totyu, Hadzhi Dimitar and Stefan Karadzha”. In the book, Mihail Arnaudov underlined the following text: “The small band of Totyu, whatever it was, but it scared most the Bosphorus aghas, it drew the attention of civilised Europe to Bulgarians, finally it gave the right of citizenship to the new word “komita” (translator’s note: rebel), a word that was the beginning of the Turkish collapse…”.

The book “Hristo Botev. An attempt for biography”, published in 1966 in the section “Library of Bulgaria in Images. Books for Prominent Bulgarians” is also kept in the personal collection of academician Arnaudov.

More notes and text underlinings are found in the books and prints related to the activity and work of Zahari Stoyanov, there are seven in the collection. From the researchers of Zahari Stoyanov in the library of the academician, we find the book of Georgi Konstantinov “Zahari Stoyanov as a publicist and writer”, published on the occasion of the centenary of his birth in 1952. On the pages of this book, Mihail Arnaudov has placed numerous underlinings with a pencil, as well as a piece of paper on page 78, where he has underlined the following text: “When reading these intimate family writings, we will have to remember that Zahari Stoyanov grew spiritually in the house of the Obretenov family, among the sons and daughters of Baba Tonka. They – mainly Nikola Obretenov – introduced him to the revolutionary movement, they helped him educate himself, they were the first to appreciate his exceptional talent, they collaborated with him in the creation of all his works. Without Angel and Nikola Obretenov and without that progressive and courageous spirit in Baba Tonka’s family, Zahari Stoyanov would not have been what he is, he would not have written “The Bands”, “The Notes”, Botev’s biography”.

Several prints take their place in the library: “To build Bulgaria – this is necessary, to live – this is not necessary”; “Don’t try to place the blame any more…!” – both texts are by Nikola T. Balabanov, on the occasion of half a century since the death of Zahari Stoyanov. The prints are from Slavyanska Beseda and Uchilishten Pregled magazines.

On the front page of |Zahariy Stoyanov. Public and political activity”, we read the following autograph by the author of the study: “To Prof. Arnaudov, with respect. Sofia. 4.ХІІ.1950 Hr. Hristov". On page 6, the professor has underlined the first footnote and has written “Н. С. (Translator’s note: unpublished writings). The note refers to the fact that the unpublished writings of Zahari Stoyanov later in the text will be briefly marked with H. C.

Arnaudov himself wrote a review of Zahari Stoyanov’s “Unpublished Writings” published under the edition of Asparuh Emanuilov, found in his archive. The review was published in Balgarska Misal magazine, in issue 7-8 of 1943. According to Mihail Arnaudov, although the included materials and correspondence are not well arranged, they will contribute to a more complete presentation of the personality of Zahari Stoyanov.

We find another valuable autograph from a researcher of Zahari Stoyanov. On a print of the Writings at the Higher Institute of National Economy – Varna in 1958 under the title “Ivan Vazov and Zahari Stoyanov. Literary Relations and Influences”, Dimo Minev wrote: “To my esteemed teacher Prof. M. Arnaudov as a piece of memory and with wishes for many years to come. 9.ІІ.1958 D. Minev”.

The personal library of Mihail Arnaudov stores the Writings along with works of Lyuben Karavelov and Hristo Botev, which Zahari Stoyanov edited and prepared for printing, strictly adhering to the authentic text.

The writings of Lyuben Karavelov were published in 8 volumes in 1886 – 1888 in Ruse, in the printing house of Natalia Karavelova. In the 8 volumes, in the first to the 20th page, Acad. Arnaudov has made many corrections, notes, adjustments in accordance with the new spelling. The title page of volume 8 has a round stamp with the inscription “Bookstore. Bookbinder’s shop. A.M. Piperov. Ruse.” Andrey Marinov Piperov is a second-generation bookbinder who started working immediately after the Liberation. He was respected in Ruse and the books of many prominent Ruse citizens bear his company label. Here, too, we come across a curious fact – because of his good work and low prices, Piperov won the tender for binding the books of the Ruse City Library.

Zahari Stoyanov accepted the publication of the writings of Botev as the erection of a spiritual monument of the poet. They were published in 1888 and included poems, political articles, feuilletons. The title page is signed by M. Arnaudov and dated 20.III.1896.

In the second part of the report, we present the works of Z. Stoyanov, issued until 1900, which are stored in the Rare and Valuable Editions Fund. They are 13 titles, 7 of which are printed in Ruse. The first self-published work of Zahari Stoyanov is the brochure “Iskender Bey”, published in 1882 and issued by Nikola Obretenov. Among them are the brochures: “Lyuben Karavelov and his defamers”, “It was not the time”, “Crowned nihilists in Bulgaria|, the brochure “What did we do in Tarnovo? Report to my constituents in Plovdiv, Kotel, and the surrounding areas”; the first editions of the books:  “The Bands of Filip Totya, Hadzhi Dimitra and Stefan Karadzhata” (1885), “Hristo Botyov. An attempt for biography” and “Chardafon the Great” (1887) and “Notes on the Bulgarian Uprising”, which, without a doubt, occupy the most important place in the creative expressions of Zahari Stoyanov. In the full text of the report, we present interesting facts about the editions and copies stored by Lyuben Karavelov Regional Library.