Rare Books

Holding several hundred thousand volumes of books and serials dating from the 13th century to the present, with formats ranging from scrolls to miniature books, our print collection is a significant resource for the study of the history of Western print culture. Our book collection complements and builds upon our other collecting strengths. We hold one of the world’s most significant research collections of printed material documenting the African American experience, and our other print collection highlights include contemporary literature and poetry, gay and lesbian pulp novels, and regional history.

We also collect the personal libraries of authors and artists whose papers we hold, including inscribed and annotated editions. Particular strengths include the Raymond Danowski Poetry Library, books printed in the American South, Belgian imprints, French Revolution pamphlets, Victorian yellowbacks, modern British and American literature, artists’ books, travel guides, and fine literary first editions.

To locate an individual book title please search Library Search and limit to the Rose Library.

    The diverse world of art from ancient to modern times is well represented in the Rose Library’s holdings. The Library holds notable examples of illustrated Flemish and Dutch books from the 16th and 17th centuries, including volumes designed by Rubens and engravings by masters of the genre such as members of the Wierix and Galle families. Modern and contemporary art are also represented by our broad collection of artist and fine press books which include productions by such noted artists as Sol Lewitt, Philip Ruscha, Tracey Emin and Gilbert & George.

    To access MARBL's collection of artists' books:

    1. Use the search bar in Library Search and keyword "Artists ' books  Specimens" to bring up a variety of titles.
    2. Refine and limit your search results further by Resource Type, Topic, Author/Creator, Library, Collection, Genre, Classification on the left side of the results screen.

    Emory has one of the largest collections of early modern British literature in the United States, including first editions of such classics as Sense and Sensibility, Jane Eyre, Frankenstein and David Copperfield. Notable among these holdings is the Robinson Crusoe collection which includes nearly all the editions of Robinson Crusoe from its first publication in 1786 to its most current and author Graham Greene's collection of Victorian detective fiction, which includes the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes in The Study in Scarlet (1887). The Library also boasts one of the world's largest collections of Victorian popular literature, known as yellowbacks. Yellowbacks were cheap, 19th century British literature sold at railway book stalls, with colorful, sensational covers to attract buyers.

    To access the yellowbacks online:

    1. Use the search bar in Library Search and keyword "yellowback" to bring up a variety of titles, or search for a specific yellowback title or author of your choice.
    2. Refine and limit your search results further by "Resource Type: Online Resources"
    3. Select "open in new window."
    4. The yellowback will load as a PDF file. It can be saved on the computer or a flash drive.

    The period of the French Revolution from 1789 to 1799 produced a vast amount of printed material as the population struggled to learn about the dramatic events occurring around them and the new government attempted to establish itself. The Rose Library has one of the largest collections of this literature in the United States with over 3,000 pamphlets and books from the period. They range from official publications relating to religion or the army to scandalous political satires, usually written and printed anonymously.

    To access the pamphlets of the French Revolution:

    1. Use the search bar in Library Search and keyword "France History Revolution 1789-1799" to bring up a variety of titles.
    2. Refine and limit your search results further by Resource Type, Topic, Author/Creator, Library, Collection, Genre, Classification on the left side of the results screen.

    The Rose Library also holds a significant collection of works printed in the South before 1870. At the heart of this area is the J. Durelle Boles Collection of Southern Imprints which includes many early or unique books printed in the South. One of the most notable volumes in this collection is Nicholas Trott’s landmark legal work, The Laws of the Province of South-Carolina, printed in Charleston in 1736. The Rose Library also houses a major collection of Confederate imprints, which are books printed in the South during the Civil War. These range from the expected legal and military works to historical works, novels and school textbooks.

    To access works printed in the South before 1870:

    1. Use the search bar in Library Search and keyword "Southern Imprints" and "State" (example: southern imprints Georgia) to bring up a variety of titles.
    2. Refine and limit your search results further by Resource Type, Topic, Author/Creator, Library, Collection, Genre, Classification on the left side of the results screen

    The Rose Library boasts one of the world’s largest collections of Victorian popular literature, known as yellowbacks. Yellowbacks were cheap, 19th century British literature sold at railway book stalls, with colorful, sensational covers to attract buyers.

    How to access the yellowbacks:

    Yellowbacks can be accessed via Emory Digital Collections.

    The Rose Library has also digitized a number of its collections of rare books. These include:

    • Regimental histories
    • Southern Imprints
    • Three deckers
    • African Americana
    • Travel Guides by Karl Baedeker
    • Books on Ancient Rome
    • Emblem books

    These items are available through our catalog, Library Search. You can either search the term used above or use the search term "Emory Digital Library" to find all of the items available online in Full Text. Choosing "Rose Library (MARBL)" from the left column will limit your search to those items which are part of Rose Library's holdings.

    You can also find all of the above subjects in Readux.