Rare Book Collections

Our rare book collections of over 40,000 volumes include early printed books, private press books, modern literary first editions and ephemera.

Subject strengths include the history of books, printing and publishing; natural history, science and medicine; children’s books; travel, exploration and maps; and history.

Each rare book collection has its own A-Z page, where you can find out more about the collection and how to access it. This list also includes archive collections which include rare books or published items.

Rare book collections

Abingdon Parish Library

Baron, Hermann – Music Collection

Bee Collection

Brock Collection

Buckland Parish Library

Children’s Collection

Coburn Collection

Cole, Francis – Library and Papers

Cowie Embroidery Collection

Crusoe Collection

DEGW

Didcot Parish Library

Finzi Book Room

Harris Collection

Hawkins Collection

Henley Parish Library

Golden Head Press Collection

Donald Gordon Collection on Yeats

Gaberbocchus Press Collection

Gibbings Collection

Great Exhibition Collection

John Hetherington Reader’s Library Collection

Ladybird Books Ltd. – Archive and Library

Mark Longman Library: Books about Books

Matthews-Shelley Collection

Mills & Boon – Archive and Library

Charles Mozley Illustrations Collection

O’Donoghue Collection

Overstone Library

Pamphlet Books Collection

Printing Collection

Reserve Rare Books Collection

Sowerby Stud Card Collection

Spellman Music Collection

Stenton Library and Coin Collection

Two Rivers Press Collection

Tyler-Liebig Agricultural Chemistry Collection

Wain Collection

W. H. Smith Business Archive

Wizard of Oz Collection