Rare Books
NEW: Incunable Provenance Indexes
NEW: Self-service photography now permitted in Maps, Manuscripts and Rare Books Reading Rooms
Featured collection: Historical Printing Room
Cambridge University Library Rare Book collections include material from the first European printing presses, and from the wider world up to the present day. The Department is responsible for most of the older or valuable printed material in the Library. Information on particular rare book collections can be found in the Collections directory.
The collections are read in the Munby Rare Books Room. Books from the Near and Middle Eastern and Indian collections printed before 1900 are also read in Rare Books. Pre-1900 Bible Society books are ordered in the Anderson Room but read in Rare Books. Books, pamphlets and periodicals from the Royal Commonwealth Society (but not official publications) are also read in Rare Books. All these collections also have their own specialist departments where further information can be obtained.
Please note that Maps, Music, most Official Publications and the Chinese, Japanese and Korean collections all have their own specialist departments and reading rooms.
Those intending to use the Library for the first time should contact the Admissions Office for further information and an appointment. More details on the Rare Books Room are included on our Services page.