Printed Book Collections

Special Collections is home to many thousands of printed books, organised in over 20 separate collections. Some collections accompany the archives of authors and are described on the relevant archive pages:

William Allchin, Adam Curle, Jacquetta Hawkes, W. R. Mitchell, Dmitrije Mitrinovic, J. B. Priestley, Arthur Raistrick, W. Riley, John Waddington-Feather, Calvin Wells.

University Book Collection.

Kearton Book Collection.

Rotblat Book Collection.

Those listed below are stand-alone or 'artificial' collections gathered around subjects or types of material.

Commonweal Rare Books

Commonweal Library printed books, pamphlets and journals which need extra care. Includes pre-1850 handpress era works, items with significant provenance, and rare or fragile material. Highlights include The Herald of Peace, an early 19th century journal.

Dyeing and Textile History Collection

Dyeing and wool were major industries in Bradford and are part of the history of the University. 19th and early 20th century books on history and technological processes including many sample books and works by Bradford Technical College lecturers.

History of Pharmacy Collection

Including pharmacopoeias from the 18th and 19th centuries, the earliest being Pharmacopoeia Bateana, or, Bate's dispensatory (1694), herbals and other works covering the heritage of pharmacy.

History of Science and Technology Collection

Rare printed books on technology, including zoology, botany, chemistry, optics, building and transport, especially railways, most from the hand-press era (pre-1850). Highlights include The botanical magazine; or, flower-garden displayed by William Curtis, which features stunning colour illustrations of flowers.

Quaker Book Collection

Books and pamphlets on the history, beliefs and practices of the Religious Society of Friends (commonly known as Quakers). Much on Yorkshire Quakers and Quaker peace testimony, linking to Peace Studies at the University. The Collection includes classic works on the history of Quaker ideas, and biographies and memoirs of individual Quakers. Most works date from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Many volumes were once owned by Yorkshire Meeting House Libraries such as Airton and Lothersdale, or presented by individual Quakers to meeting houses or fellow Quakers.

Antiquarian Collection

Historic, rare, beautiful or fragile printed books, most from the hand-press era (pre-1850). Including the oldest book in Special Collections: a copy of Bacon's essays printed in 1639.