Rare Books
The Rare Books Collection was established as a separate collection in 1981, although many of the books have been in the Library since the 19th century. The Collection consists of non-Australian material; there is also an Australian Rare Books Collection. At present there are about 50,000 volumes in the Rare Books Collection, of which approximately 12,000 were published before 1800.
Collection overview
The Rare Books Collection encompasses all fields of knowledge. Books are acquired to support other collections within the Library and for their value as artefacts - books with interesting illustrations, fine bindings, imprints, typography, paper - which are used for exhibition and teaching purposes.
The collection comprises:
- medieval manuscripts and incunabula
- books printed before 1801 and selected books printed after that date
- books with fine plate, in particular, works of illustrated travel and topography and natural history
- books with substantial commercial value
- books which are known to be scarce, or which can be reasonably assumed to be so; for example, books containing a limitation statement
- 19th-century pamphlet literature and ephemera which is assumed not to have survived in great numbers
- important literary first editions
- books with certain rare or unique physical characteristics such as a fine binding or important provenance or association
- modern private press publications and deluxe limited editions.
In deciding whether to acquire material for the Collection various criteria are applied, including:
- books which are known to be scarce or which can reasonably be supposed to be scarce because of a significant limitation statement or some other factor
- association or presentation copies and books with notable provenances
- works with notable illustrations, plates, binding or some other distinguishing feature, such as fine productions and significant first editions
- books which support the Library’s exhibitions, events and lifelong learning programs
- valuable works.
