The Alston Collection is a treasure trove of over 1,800 works on philology and linguistics. From rare books and manuscripts to Robin Alston’s personal drafts and correspondence, this collection is a must for anyone exploring the history of language and early bibliographical studies.

Enter the musical world of seventeenth and early nineteenth century Britain with rare prints, books and manuscripts.

Country house library collection of 1648 books and 54 serials with strength in English and French publications of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries

Searching for the 18th-century character in the Library's rare books and music collections.

Dive into the works of great female writers held in the Library's rare books collection.

Explore early women writers in the Library's rare books collections up to the year 1700.

Records for much of the Rare Books Collection are in our catalogue, but if you do not find the item you are looking for, please ask for help: the item may not yet be catalogued, or an alternative version may be available

Dive into two of the earliest English publications to feature Australian flowers and the stunning images they contain.

There are numerous guides and bibliographies available to help you navigate the Library's vast collections.

Ever wondered how people learned the piano in the 1780s, 1880s and 1980s?

The Margarita Philosophica (Pearl of Philosophy) (1517) of German Carthusian monk and prior Gregor Reisch (c. 1467-1525).

Celebrate William Shakespeare's birthday with Shakespearean gems from the National Library's rare books collections.