Books and materials of a rare, unusual or unique character are currently held in this Library of Michigan collection, offering users a diversity of subject coverage and an array of physical formats.

While many of the items are drawn from the Library's special collections of Michigan items, government documents and legal materials, others represent the full scope of the Library's collection.

The Rare Book Collection at the Library of Michigan is approaching 17,000 volumes (around 9,000 titles), each item varying in size from slender pamphlets, less than 3 inches tall, to large folios measuring 30 or more inches in height and 24 in width. Formats include maps, printed books, portfolios of prints, scrapbooks, letters and deeds. Materials include paper, leather, bark and parchment.

The collection has six main areas of focus: natural history, law, angling, travel and exploration, Native Americans and Michigania. Numerous other types of materials, from miniature books to fore-edge paintings, further distinguish this exciting collection.

For more information, please review our guidelines for using rare books at the Library of Michigan.

Updated 2/21/2008