The Library's extensive rare book collection ranges from early printed books from the fifteenth century to examples of fine and small press printing of the present day. Special Collections also houses extensive collections of manuscripts, ephemera, and archival materials relating to printing, papermaking, and the book arts. The following guide represents a selected list of relevant holdings in these areas. Specimens Rare Book Collections Special Collections houses a vast number of rare books in a variety of subject areas. Books from the fifteenth century through the nineteenth century may be found in its collections in the history of science and technology and the history of horticulture.
Holdings are also strong in such traditional collecting areas as history, literature, and the arts.
The University of Delaware Library includes examples of fine press printing from virtually every significant press from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The collection is particularly strong in American and British fine presses of the twentieth century. Special Collections also houses an extensive collection of illustrated books, including artists' books, botanicals, and manuscript facsimiles. The Library's collection of more than 2,000 trade catalogs includes a substantial number relating to the printing and publishing industries. In addition, the catalogs often serve as examples of developments in the technology of printing and illustration.