From books in chains to historical manuscripts

... we have 40,000 rare books and 5km of archives? 

The tradition of acquiring special material is as old as the University, the bequest of the Overstone Library in 1920 setting a pattern. The collecting of manuscripts and archives began in a systematic way in the 1960s, and from the start has been dominated by the programme to collect and manage British publishers’ archives.

...our oldest archival document is a 12th century charter of Henry II? 

This charter of Henry II to the Abbey of St. Sauveur-le-Vicomte, was issued at Westminster sometime between 1155 and 1158. We also hold a fine collection of illuminated manuscripts and Books of Hours. 

... the oldest printed book in our collections is Petrus Crescentius’ Ruralia Commodia? 

A manual on agriculture, this copy was printed in 1471. This makes it an 
'incunable', meaning a book that was printed before 1501.

... we hold over 500 works by and about W.B. Yeats? The works on Yeats are held in our Donald Gordon collection and our Reserve Collections.

This edition of his poems was designed by Althea Gyles (1867-1949), whose papers we also hold as MSS 148, 150-9, and 1163. 

... we are home to the The Archive of British Publishing and Printing? 

It contains records of 30 different publishing companies as well as collections from individuals related to the history of publishing. This image shows correspondence from our George Bell and Sons Archive.

... the work of Owen Jones (1809-1874), one of the most influential design theorists of his time, can be found throughout our collections? 

Jones designed the backs of playing cards for De La Rue, designed Huntley & Palmers' trademark garter and buckle, was the Superintendent of Works for the Great Exhibition of 1851, and published his design masterpiece The Grammar of Ornament in 1856.