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Image of the title page and portrait frontispiece of NLA RB CLI 2050 with portrait frontispiece an image of a woman in profile with a prominent 18th-century wig.

Mrs M. Robinson, Poems, volume 1, London: Printed by J. Bell, British-Library, Strand, 1791, Clifford Collection (Overseas Rare Books), RB CLI 2050, nla.cat-vn2476718

Great female writers of the eighteenth century: Trailblazers and radicals

Dive into the works of great female writers held in the Library's rare books collection.

Blog
Woman with red hair standing in front of a bookshelf of romance books, holding a tablet with the cover of a romance book on the screen. She is facing forward with her back to the bookshelf, looking to the side and slightly smiling
Library love stories: Romance in the National Library of Australia’s collection

Explore the history and diversity of Australian romance books in our collection.

Blog
Shelf and table with dozens of old, leather-bound books, some with gold designs or writing on the spines

Baskerville Collection in the Rare Books Stacks

Using the Rare Books collection

Records for much of the Rare Books Collection are in our catalogue, but if you do not find the item you are looking for, please ask for help: the item may not yet be catalogued, or an alternative version may be available

Information article
Uncredited artist Glycine Rubicunda Dingy-Flowered Glycine Diadelphia Decandria Kennedia Rubicunda, Dusky Coral Pea, No 268, July 1 1794

Uncredited artist, Glycine Rubicunda. Dingy-Flowered Glycine: Diadelphia Decandria [Kennedia Rubicunda, Dusky Coral Pea], No. 268, July 1 1794

Australian flowers in print

Dive into two of the earliest English publications to feature Australian flowers and the stunning images they contain.

Blog
Japanese portrait of a women reading

Bijin Shinobazunoike o nozomu, Beauty looking at Shinobazu Pond (1895), nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn5744665

Asian collections

The Asian language collections cover a broad range of formats and focus on contemporary Asia from the 19th century onwards 

Information article
Magazines and books from the 00s and 90s spread out, including the 'Australian Women's Weekly: Children's birthday cake book' and a document titled 'Y2K: State disaster contingency plan'
Discovery video: 90s and 00s nostalgia

Join Madeline and Allister as they dive into our collection and discover items from the '90s and '00s.

Video
Title page of the Margarita Philosophica 1517

Title page of the Margarita Philosophica (1517)

Reisch’s Margarita Philosophica (1517)

The Margarita Philosophica (Pearl of Philosophy) (1517) of German Carthusian monk and prior Gregor Reisch (c. 1467-1525).

Blog
Old book open to page reading 'As You Like It: A comedy'

Nicholas Rowe (editor), The Works of Mr. William Shakespear, 6 volumes, volume 2, London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, 1709–1710, David Nichol Smith Collection, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1355760

Shakespeare in the Library’s rare books collections

Celebrate William Shakespeare's birthday with Shakespearean gems from the National Library's rare books collections.

Blog
Rare Dictionaries

Jacques Lacombe (1724–1811), Dizionario Portatile Delle Belle Arti (Portable Dictionary of the Fine Arts), Venice: Bassano, 1768, Onions Collection, nla.cat-vn15907 

Rare dictionaries at the Library

Explore dictionaries of various shapes, sizes, languages and subjects from the Library's collection.

Blog
Rare Books Swimming - Roger Lever

Frontispiece and title page of Melchisédech Thévenot, The Art of Swimming. The second edition. London: Printed for John Lever, 1764, nla.cat-vn7756220

Rare book highlights – Swimming in 1764

How is a rare book about swimming connected to an important early European map of Australia and American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin? Find out in this blog.

Blog
Reckoning by Magda Szubanski.png

Reckoning: A Memoir by Magda Szubanski

Australian pride histories and biographies: Recommendations from the National Library

Celebrate WorldPride with this diverse range of books about the LGBTQIA+ experience and culture.

Blog
The Birds of Australia Gould - Printed plate
Conserving John Gould’s Australian Bird Pattern Plates

Learn about the treatment work our conservators have recently done on thepattern plates for the supplement to The Birds of Australia by John Gould.

Blog

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