Abstract

This article presents the disputed history of the authorship of Sarmatiae Europae Descriptio, with scholars’ debates lasting from the 18th century to contemporary times. Some concede to Maciej Stryjkowski’s claim towards Aleksander Gwagnin, who was accused of plagiarism. Others deem Gwagnin’s work as being original. Constructing his text, Gwagnin drew from printed books and manuscripts by Stryjkowski. Some scholars also point out to other resources. Gwagnin’s text is a well of knowledge, which is a compilation of information from many sources. The conceptualisation of the entire work makes form the originality of this work. Paszkowski not only translated the Polish version of Gwagnin’s work, but also added some of excerpts, each time signalling his authorship. It cannot be determined in what capacity he contributed otherwise.