A picture of rare books

Rare Books Open House

Western Libraries' Archives and Special Collections invites you to explore its latest acquisitions — a remarkable gathering of materials making their public debut.

On display will be medieval manuscripts, early printed books, fine bindings, local history materials, 19th-century manuscript recipe books, French literature, comic books, and works connected to celebrated literary figures including Shakespeare, Chaucer, Dickens, Shelley, and Austen.

Some of the items on display:

  • First and second editions of Austen's and Brontë's works
  • First illustrated Frankenstein edition
  • 19th-century Dickens serial Little Dorrit in its original monthly paper parts
  • Limited edition of Dune (illustrated by Richard Kirk)
  • Limited edition collection of Shakespeare's works
  • Limited edition of Beowulf 
  • 19th-century handwritten recipe books
  • Black history comic books
  • Zane Grey's King of the Royal Mounted comic strips
  • South Ontario Black settlement map
  • WWII plane manuals
  • Forgeries of Medieval playing card

All are welcome. No registration is required.