Rare Books and Primary Sources in the History of Science Collections

The History of Science Collections has over 100,000 volumes comprising the printed record of science from the 15th century to the present time.

Some manuscript materials are held in the collections, but one of its key strengths is its holdings of early printed books from 15th through 17th centuries, including over 50 incunabla, many first or notable editions of ancient and medieval authors, and key texts reflecting developments in astronomy, cosmology, natural philosophy, medicine and natural history throughout the Renaissance and the period of the Scientific Revolution. 

Materials in the earth sciences and geology through the nineteenth century are a significant strength of the collections. This area is supplemented with the Darwin Collection, which comprises over 500 editions of Darwin’s works, enabling researchers to study Darwin’s influence over time through many cultures and contexts. 

Another strength of the collections is its significant holdings of scientific journals from the 17th century through the 19th century, including the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society and the publications of many other smaller scientific societies.

In addition to collecting of influential works by well-known scientists, collecting policy over the decades has emphasized the gathering of a broad scope of published materials on science to reflect the actual networks and practice of scientific culture within earlier time periods.

Materials held in the collections comprise works published in a wide range of languages, including Arabic, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Latin, Portuguese, and Russian.

For more information about the holdings of the History of Science Collections, see: History of Science Primary Sources - History of Science Collections (Original Materials).