Hidden Treasures
Help reveal our Special Collections
The London Library’s Special Collections contain 70,000 of the Library’s rare and precious items dating from the 16th century onwards. Little contemporary research has been carried out into the Special Collections and we want them to be better known and enjoyed by members.
Hidden Treasures will shine a light on the Special Collections, adding value for all Library members and highlighting unknown volumes for subject specialists and curious readers alike. We hope to raise £100,000 to make this project happen. Any donation you can make to The Library Fund will help us reach this goal.
What are the Special Collections?
When the Library opened in 1841, antiquarian books from the personal libraries of its founders provided the basis of the collection. The Special Collections grew from these first volumes and developed through donations both of individual books and discrete collections. These are little known and understated treasures of The London Library: the invaluable items providing the gilded edge to the depth of the wider collection.
The collections are rich in many of the themes of our lending collection, including topography, travel, exploration, literature, politics, society and religion. The holdings include:
– 12,000 Antiquarian Books including volumes from as early as 1500
– An Atlas Collection which includes some of our most prized early atlases and maps
– 40,000 pamphlets from the 17th century onwards
– A collection of Spanish plays which is the largest collection outside Spain
– A Theology Collection containing some of the Library’s oldest books
Hidden Treasures will deliver a 2-year project to reveal the Special Collections, primarily through recruiting a Special Collections Curator to:
– Carry out research into the Special Collections
– Uncover the wider context and importance of the most unique items
– Discover the stories behind the books and how they connect to the Library’s history
– Produce print and digital resources to share, explain and celebrate the Special Collections
– Create physical and digital exhibitions of these wonderful objects
What is the Library Fund?
The Library Fund is an annual fundraising appeal focused on improving the Library in ways that directly impact its users. How people use the Library is at the heart of what makes it a special institution. Supporters of The Library Fund help improve the Library’s collections, services and spaces to enhance enjoyment of the Library.
Find out more about past Library Fund projects.
