More than 30 years ago Andrzej Zaborski (1983; 1987 {1983}) collected and analyzed all Cushitic and Omotic numerals, which were described in his time, and tried to analyze their internal structure. His two pioneering studies stimulated the present attempt to collect all available relevant data about Cushitic numerals and to analyze them in both genetic (Afroasiatic) and areal (Omotic, Ethio-Semitic and Nilo-Saharan) perspectives, all at the contemporary level of our knowledge. With respect to the long mutual interference between various groups of Cushitic and Omotic languages, it is necessary to study the numerals in both the language families together. The presented material is organized in agreement with the genetic classification of these languages. On the basis of concrete forms in individual languages the protoforms in partial groups are reconstructed, if it is possible, and these partial protoforms of numerals in the daughter protolanguages are finally compared to determine the inherited forms. The common cognates are finally compared with parallels in other Afroasiatic branches, if they exist, or with counterparts in Ethio-Semitic or Nilo-Saharan languages, if they could be borrowed from or adapted into the Cushitic or Omotic languages.

The collections of the PAN Kórnik Library include one of the most interesting illuminated manuscripts of “Digestum vetus” made at the request of Emperor Justinian. The manuscript is marked by a very rich iconographic programme including 25 figurative initials and more than 230 marginal illustrations. Both types of image excellently correlate with the text of the legal manuscript and the marginal illustrations constitute a visual commentary to it. The manuscript contains a commentary by Accursius (Glossa ordinaria) as well as many earlier pre-accursian glosses. The manuscript was brought to Poland by Dziersław of Karnice, a scholaster from Płock, in the 15th century. He purchased it during his stay in Italy, where he studied law from 1469 until 1471. The manuscript spent the next 300 years in Plock, in the library of the cathedral chapter. It was subsequently purchased by Tadeusz Czacki, who added it to the collections of the Poryck Library. After a few years, the manuscript was bought by Adam Jerzy Czartoryski, who made it a part of the collections of the Puławy Library. Finally, the manuscript was brought to the Kórnik Library founded by the Działyński family.