Rare Books, Special Collections, Hartley Library: About

General enquiries about the Rare Books contact:

Jenny Ruthven

email: archives@soton.ac.uk  or tel. 023 80593335 

Search Room Bookings:

email: archives@soton.ac.uk or tel. 023 80592721

Address: 

Special Collections

Hartley Library

University of Southampton

Southampton SO17 1BJ

Special Collections Home Page

Printed Special Collections

A-Z List of Collections

Rare Books QL 376.4

The Rare Books sequence consists of books from the general library collections published before 1801, and items of particular significance or rarity published after that date. A recataloguing project will extend the transfer date to include books published before 1850. 

The material covers a wide range of subjects, reflecting the interests of the University and its predecessors, there being an emphasis on theological, historical, philosophical and literary works.

Within the collection there are a number of smaller donated or deposited collections:

• theological books from the library of John Bullar (1777-1864), a contemporary of Henry Robinson Hartley, the founder of the Hartley Institution;
• books relating to Dante presented by Sir Samuel Gurney Dixon (1878-1970)
• the parish libraries of Basingstoke (the Wheler Library) and Droxford
• books from the Southampton Reading Society and the Southampton Theological Society
• domestic sheet music compilations including those of Thomas and Louisa Gladstone and the Misses Shirreff, Sprot and Whitford

Extent: Approximately 4,000 books, ranging in date from the late 15th century to the 20th century.

The Rare Books are part of Special Collections on level 4 of the Hartley Library.

Material is fetched for use in the Archives Search Room which is open Monday to Friday 09.30-17.00. Appointments are not required, but it can save you time if you order items in advance.

Contact archives@soton.ac.uk or phone: 023 80592721 to order material.

If you do not have a University I.D. Card, you will need to show photographic I.D. on entering the Hartley Library and on entering the Search Room, a form of I.D. which includes your permanent residential address.

The books are listed in the Hartley Library card catalogue, which is in the Film and Music Resources Room on level 5. Rare Books are indicated by the call number prefix x or xq.

WebCat includes records for a small proportion of the Rare Books (all pre-1700 British imprints and a growing number of nineteenth century imprints)

An imprints index is also available in the Special Collections Enquiry Office.

Bound volumes cannot be photocopied but you can request photographic or microfilm copies, subject to the age and condition of the item.

See Reprographics Service for a list of the types of copy available and charges.

Rare Books QB 66

Search library collections worldwide in the following union catalogues:

Access to some collections is restricted to members of the University.