Rare Books Collection

Books are artifacts of other times, other places, other minds and other hands. Rare books are unusual, uncommon or unique and are valued for many reasons. Many of the rare books in UDs collection were printed before 1800, prior to the Industrial Revolution. Strengths of the collection include first editions of important works, in-demand limited editions, artist’s books, fine press imprints, and books signed by noted authors.

UD’s rare books are available for use on site but cannot be borrowed. Please schedule an appointment to ensure that materials and personnel are available. 


Collection Highlights
Detail from a French prayer book illuminated manuscript

Pre-1600 Manuscripts link-arrow link-arrow

Included among the collection’s several Medieval manuscripts are a French prayer book and a Dominican collection of antiphons.
Three open pages featuring, including the title page, featuring Dali illustrationsA 1969 edition of Lewis Carroll’s Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with 12 illustrations by surrealist Salvador Dalí and signed by Dalí

‘Alice's Adventures in Wonderland’

A 1969 edition of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland features 12 illustrations by surrealist Salvador Dalí and signed by Dalí.

Two manuscript leaves

1663 Eliot Indian Bible Leaf link-arrow link-arrow

This leaf is from the first Bible printed in what is now the United States and features a portion of Jeremiah Chapters 40-43 in the Massachusett language, spoken by the Wampanoag Native American people.

Close up of the text

‘Great He’ King James Bible

UD has a first edition, first issue, known for a typographical error in Ruth 3:15 (“he went into the citie,” changed to “she went into the citie” in the second issue).

Open book featuring the signatures of Henri Matisse and James Joyce

Modern First and Limited Editions

Several editions in the collection are signed by authors including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Robert Frost, James Joyce, Sinclair Lewis and Virginia Woolf.



Out of the Vault

Books and manuscripts in this collection are safely stored and well protected, but also used in classes, for research and for campus programs and exhibits. If you are interested in exploring this collection further, please contact us.