User:Ninascholten/Special Collections of the Library of the University of Amsterdam

Special Collections of the Library of the University of Amsterdam

The Special Collections of the Library of the University of Amsterdam have an impressive collection of old prints, handwriting, maps, cards, atlases and pictures. Mostly acquired by donations, purchases and loans. They're mostly publications which are special because of the subject or the design. The Special Collections offers students, researchers and others who are interested a large variety of material which they can use to do research. You can look into a lot of their material at one of their locations, at the 'Oude Turfmarkt' in the center of Amsterdam. There are also exhibitions, publications, lectures and presentations which you can visit. Every month, the Special Collections organize a so called 'Boekensalon' at their museum-cafe. There's always a theme and special guests, who debate with each other and the public. You can go there for free.

'Old prints' They have a big collection of old prints. From all the Dutch literature that is published before 1800, the special collections own 80%. These prints are mostly related to the subject 'Amsterdam'. The Special Collections also have another big collection of old prints in the 'Artis Library', which are mostly pieces about zoology. They own a lot of illustrated Dutch books from the 17th and 18th century and releases from famous pressers including a collection Bodoni-prints.

'Special modern collections' This is the collection of modern prints from after 1800. They have theme-collections, like cookbooks, children's books, bridge-books and comics. They also own type specimens, calenders and archives about the cultural history. An important collection in graphic design, is the Collection 'Tetterode', known as the typographical library. Also in the Artis Library are a lot of special modern prints, like illustrated travel-books.

'Handwriting, letters and archives' This collection includes more then half a million letters, hundreds medievals and ten-thousands of moderns, which are mostly Western and about all areas of science and culture. It's mostly dutch literary heritage. They also own a lot of legacies by different authors like a correspondence, diaries or manuscripts. They also have religious, philosophical and medical handwriting.

'Print's, pictures and posters' The special collections also owns portraits of booksellers, pressers and pastors. They have images of interiors of certain companies and churches. Also they have portraits, pictures and posters of a lot scientific domains. They have more then 20.000 Jewish and topographical images. And illustrations, made with special graphic techniques. At the Artis library you have Everything is mostly Dutch.