Rare Book Collections

The principal collection of some 30,000 titles includes books published before 1840 (1900 for Australian works), fine and limited editions, works vulnerable because of their size or format, and selected publications of anticipated long-term research and reference value. 

Areas of particular strength and/or interest include 

• Australiana
• Australian Aboriginal languages and cultures
• Early printing (including Incunabula)
• English literature of the 18th and 19th centuries
• Illustrated books
• Medicine (including herbals and pharmacopoeias)
• Natural history (notably birds and flora, including orchids)
• Pacific voyages and exploration
• Private press and fine editions
• South Australian colonial history
• Women

There are also a number of individual collections, notably

• the Cornell collection of French language and literature;
• the Hague collection on book history and book collecting;
• a collection of miniatures (books 14 cm. or less in height); and
• the crime fiction collection

Works in the Rare book collections are identified by the location 'Special collections rare books' in the Library catalogue.