Rare Books and Special Collections

The collection was formed from the General Reference Library, which in turn contained the original collection of the Australian Subscription Library, the predecessor to the State Library of New South Wales.

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Ferdinandi Bauer Illustrationes Florae Novae Hollandiae, Sive, Icones Generum Quae in Prodromo Florae Novae Hollandiae Et Insulae Van Diemen Descripsit Robertus Brown. Veneunt apud Auctorem, 10 Russel Street, Bloomsbury, 1813.

State Library of NSW: SAFE/F581.99/B

There are approximately 30,000 books in the collection dating from the early thirteenth century up to the modern day.

The collection includes illuminated manuscripts, incunabula, artist’s books, limited edition, one of a kind books and books from private printing presses.

Special Collections

The Library also has significant collections, known as Special Collections, in the Rare Books collection. These collections cover subjects like art, chess, travel and magic.

The Library has mostly acquired these collections through bequest and donation but the Library also purchased collections such as the Penguin Books collection. The Library continues to add material to some of the collections such as the Donald MacPherson Collection of Art and Literature.

While individual items within these collections may not be rare or valuable, the collections themselves are unique and irreplaceable.

There are special catalogues for Special Collections. Ask at the Special Collections desk to see if a Special Collection has a catalogue.

Building the collection

We are continuing to expand the Rare Books collection through new acquisitions.

We consider each acquisition based on its relevance to the Library's collections, uniqueness, importance to the history of printing and binding, and its association interest.

We also move material from other Library collections to this collection if the fragility, historical importance or monetary value has changed.

The Library’s Rare Books collection includes books printed in Australia before 1850 and books printed overseas before 1800, but these aren’t the only items in the collection.

You will also find books that have been published much later and:

• examples of exceptional binding, including work by notable binders like Rivere and Sons
• heavily illustrated books such as artists books and books illustrated with lithographs
• grangerised material
• books with fore-edge painting
• books with significant historical or literary provenance
• materials printed on vellum or other unusual materials
• books printed using unusual printing processes or typefaces
• significant limited editions
• books printed by significant private presses
• miniature books smaller than 10 cm
• books with special historical or cultural significance
• restricted access items, such as erotica
• Special Collections containing significant individual items
• Special Collections acquired by the Library as formed collections.