A Directory of Rare Book and Special Collections in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland

Library Association, London, first edition, 1985. Cloth, 4to, 26 cm,. xxiii, 664 pp. From the blurb: "The Directory, which took nearly five years to assemble and edit, contains approximately 1,300 reports with descriptions of over 5,000 collections of rare books - that is, books printed before 1851. It lists rare books and special collections in large national, university and public libraries; in colleges, schools, cathedrals and churches; societies and institutes, National Trust properties, and private houses. The special collections listed include rare material of later date, such as literary first editions, limited editions and ephemera, and these collections have been included where it has been judged that in these cases 'special' implies rarity. Manuscript collections in libraries are generally included where they relate to or enhance the information about the rare book collections, for example as in music (in both printed and manuscript form). The names of libraries and institutions have been arranged alphabetically within the respective regions.. In addition, the size, contents, subject fields, and outstanding features of collections are provided. Details of catalogues and published references have been included whenever possible, and the Directory as a whole will be an invaluable source of reference to scholars and researchers in a wide field of human knowledge. A little rubbed, Good.