Everything which begins with ‘A’ and ends with ‘dy’
A conversation with István Gazdag, collector and Ady researcher
MúzeumCafé 37.
István Gazdag is a teacher of Hungarian, history and art. A fan of Endre Ady and his poetry, since he was at secondary school he has been collecting anything and everything connected with the poet. Today his collection includes more than 10,000 items, including first editions of all of Ady’s volumes, plus just about all the literature written about him, photos, illustrations for verses, statuettes, scores of poems set to music, and innumerable other items connected with him. The collection – although primarily not comprising individual objects of art – is matchless of its kind and basically serves exhibitions, educational presentations and scholarly research. István Gazdag and the ‘Blood and Gold’ Friends of Ady Society got together so that in November 2000 a memorial room involving his collection could open in the former Liget Sanatorium (47 Benczúr Street, Budapest), where Ady spent his last hours. The society was launched in 1999 with great élan. Centrally involved were the poet’s nephew, also called Endre Ady, and his wife. The poet Ferenc Baranyi, the actress Franciska Kassai, the literary historian Miklós Losonczi and many others were among the members. The primary activity involved organising cultural evenings. Selected items from the collection were installed in the memorial room and the cabinets were donated by the Hungarian National Gallery and others. The room opened in November 2000. The collection comprises several large units and has a core consisting of first editions of all Ady’s works, some of them with dedications. The literature about Ady comprises more than 200 volumes and there are studies and monographs, among them many numbered, signed editions. The medal collection comprises around 40 items, and there are also seven death masks.