Purkyňova knihovna patřila ve své době k největším svého druhu. Knihy Purkyně shromažďoval od studijních let až do smrti. Soupis jeho knihovny je dochován v Archivu hlavního města Prahy v pozůstalostním řízení. Uvádí 5 512 titulů knih a časopisů a 8 626 svazků z různých oborů. Ani v našich zemích, ani v zahraničí se nepodařilo najít kupce, který by ji odkoupil jako vzácný celek. Byla proto prodána do antikvariátu.
The library of Jan Evangelista Purkyně was one of the greatest in his days. Purkyně started to collect books during his studies and continued till his death. His library inventory is in his estate fonds at the City of Prague Archives, but it is definitely incomplete. The inventory comprises 5 512 titles of books and journals, 8 626 volumes, which demonstrates the broad range of Purkyně’s interests – both in the sciences and the humanities. However, his heirs could not find anyone either at home or abroad willing to buy the library as a unique whole, which is why it was sold to an antiquarian bookshop.
