Manchester City Council home page Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Sign in or register
  • Home
  • Galleries
  • Libraries
  • Rare books and collections
  • Library Special Collections

Library Special Collections

  • 24 Images
  • Click or tap an image to view larger version

Central Library is a treasure chest of exceptional rare books and fascinating special collections.

We are very proud custodians of these treasures, and we're passionate about sharing them with our customers, whether they are Manchester born and bred or visitors to our city.

More information about the library special collections


  • Rhododendron from Curtis’s Botanical Magazine by Lilian Snelling
  • Gathering water lilies (platinum print) from Life and Landscape on the Norfolk Broads by Peter Henry Emerson
  • The Savoy - Aubrey Beardsley
  • Aubrey Beardsley -The Yellow Book - Volume 1, April 1894
  • The ‘Nuremberg chronicles’ - Hartmannus Schedel
  • Annie Horniman (1860-1937) - Portrait by Emma Magnus
  • Fashion plate from La Belle Assemblee
  • An historical relation of the island of Ceylon…
  • Mistle thrush from Harmonia Ruralis: or an Essay towards a Natural History of British Song Birds
  • Dr Henry Watson (1846-1911)
  • Indian watercolour image of Lord Krishna
  • Sylva: or a discourse of forest trees…

Next page »

Manchester City Council home page
  • Social media and email updates
  • Bulletin icon Sign up for our bulletin
  • X icon Follow us on X
  • Facebook icon Follow us on Facebook
  • Linked In icon Follow us on Linked In
  • YouTube icon Subscribe to us on YouTube
  • Instagram icon Follow us on Instagram
  • Contact us
  • Site map
  • Emergency contacts
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Complaints
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • Accessibility Statement
  • © 2025 Manchester City Council
  • Powered by Jadu