Early modern history (British & W European c. 1500-c. 1800): Rare Books

[Taken from Rare Books in the Bodleian Library guide.]

The rare books holdings of the Bodleian Library reflect its history as the library of the University of Oxford since 1602, with strengths in theology, law, the classical tradition, and mathematics although almost all subjects and genres are represented somewhere.

Many printed rare book collections bear shelfmarks (often abbreviated) derived from the following sources:

• Names of former owners or libraries whose books have been acquired and are still kept together as separate collections, e.g Douce.
• Descriptions of categories of books grouped by subject matter, eg Art. [Artes], Bib. [Bible Collection], etc.

Finding Early Printed Books. See the Rare Books in the Bodleian Library guide for more details how to find incunables, prints, ballads and broadsheets, etc.

Get tips how to search in SOLO for:

• earliest editions
• shelfmark
• STC number
• Copy-specific notes
• and more