Rare Books

 

Many of the books given by Osmond Priaulx were of course both rare and valuable and reflect the eclectic interests and educated taste of the Victorian polymath.  Along with a few other bequests and a few carefully chosen acquisitions, these books are now stored in the library Strong Room in a temperature and humidity controlled environment.

Among the collection are some of the rarest and most beautiful books in Guernsey including two exquisite Books of Hours and a Nüremburg Chronicle of 1493.

There are also important local manuscripts, early locally printed books and some special first editions, including Trollope, Dickens and Winnie-the-Pooh.  Each month we profile one of our interesting or unusual volumes in the Book of the Month feature.

Groups wishing to view the collections can contact the librarian to arrange a time.