Virtual Exhibitions
View a variety of virtual exhibitions showcasing our rare and unique books and manuscripts
Please note that some of these link to archived pages from our old (pre-2010) website; the presentation of these pages may now appear outdated and may not always comply with current accessibility guidelines.
You might also want to explore our book of the month archive which focuses on individual books, manuscripts and sets of papers from our rich collections; or view the Special Collections sets on the Library's flickr page
Most recently added
Highlights from our collections
 50 Treasures from Special Collections Flickr slideshow that highlights fifty of the Library's greatest treasures from manuscript to photography, and from papyrus to parchment and paper (added May 2009) |
 The Hunterian Psalter Flickr slideshow of a selection of images from the library's greatest treasure, a beautifully illuminated 12th century manuscript (added March 2010) |
Glasgow and Scotland
 Allan and Ferguson's Views in Glasgow Depicting the buildings and landmarks of early 19th-century Glasgow, many of which have now been demolished (added 1998) |
 Maps for a Small Country A selection of maps from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries relating to Scotland (added 2006) |
 The Ephemera of John Smith Examples of ephemeral publications collected by John Smith of Crutherland during his career as bookseller, town councillor, estate owner and citizen of Glasgow; grouped around the themes of transport, politics, the Church, trade, entertainment, crime, education, medicine and city affairs, the exhibited items give us a broad picture of Glasgow life in the first half of the 19th Century (added 2004) |
 Scottish thought & letters in the 18th Century Highlights nearly 100 books illustrating the ideas & work of the Scottish Enlightenment of the 18th Century (added 2000) |
 Glasgow Cathedral Windows A selection of images from books and manuscripts describing the history of the cathedral and its windows (added 2000) |
 Seaside Entertainment A description of Scottish summers by the sea illustrated by postcards (added 2002) |
 Scottish Theatre Archive Flickr slideshow of items from a wide ranging collection that helps to preserve Scotland's theatrical heritage (added April 2010. NB. links to main library exhibitions site) |
 Divine Write: The King James Bible and Scotland. An Exhibition to Celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible (added Sept 2011)
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From 'makaris' to Makars: Scots literature in Special Collections An exhibition focusing on the Scots language in print from the 16th century to the present day (added November 2011) | |
University of Glasgow
History of the Book
The Medieval World
| The Hunterian Psalter Flickr slideshow of a selection of images from the library's greatest treasure, a beautifully illuminated 12th century manuscript (added March 2010) |
 The World of Chaucer Flickr slideshow exploring the world of the late Middle Ages, focusing on the works of Chaucer and his contemporaries (added June 2009) |
Beliefs
 The Damned Art An exhibition of books relating to the history of witchcraft and demonology (updated April 2011) |
 Leon Trotsky (1879-1940) Highlighting the range of material held in the Library by, and about, a leader of one of the most significant political events of the 20th Century - the Russian Revolution (added 2007) |
 Dancing with Death A selection of books from the Gemmell Collection on the Dance of Death (added 2009) |
Divine Write: The King James Bible and Scotland. An Exhibition to Celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible (added Sept 2011)
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The Americas/Exploration
 Americana An exhibition of books and manuscripts relating to the history of the Americas, drawn mainly from the Hunterian collection (added 2003) |
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The Natural World
 Birds, Bees and Blooms A selection of groundbreaking and wonderfully illustrated natural history books, from the 15th to 19th centuries
(updated Oct 2011) |
 Perennial Pages Flower illustration in books since the Renaissance (added 1999) |
Science and Medicine
 The Body Revealed Illustrations and background details from the major anatomical works of the 16th and 17th Centuries (added 2002) |
 Paracelsus A catalogue of works published 1529-1793 preserved in Special Collections (added 2000) |
 Cullen Papers Selection of papers relating to the foundation of the Chemistry Department (added 1997) |
 William Thomson, Lord Kelvin A selection of letters from the Kelvin collection, celebrating the pioneering Victorian scientist and Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Glasgow: highlights his correspondence with some of the leading scientists of the 19th Century - Boole, Darwin, Jenkin, Joule, Maxwell, Tait and Varley (added 2008) |
 Revolutions in Astronomy A selection of historical texts and material relating to Professors of Astronomy at the University of Glasgow (added May 2010) |
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Performing Arts
 Musicke of sundrie kindes A selection from the Euing music collection (added 2004) |
Scottish Theatre Archive Flickr slideshow of items from a wide ranging collection that helps to preserve Scotland's theatrical heritage (added April 2010. NB. links to main library exhibitions site) |
Language and Literature
 Edwin Morgan scrapbooks A glimpse of the early creative work of one of our best loved contemporary Scottish poets (added May 2010) |
 William Jacks A brief biography of the 19th-century businessman, author and translator, who endowed the University of Glasgow with the William Jacks Chair of German Language and Literature (added 2007) |
 George Buchanan 1506-1582 Books illustrating the life and work of the celebrated Renaissance humanist and neo-Latin poet (added 2006) |
The World of Chaucer Flickr slideshow exploring the world of the late Middle Ages, focusing on the works of Chaucer and his contemporaries (added June 2009) |
 Hispanica Rare Spanish books from several collections (added 2003) |
From 'makaris' to Makars: Scots literature in Special Collections An exhibition focusing on the Scots language in print from the 16th century to the present day (added November 2011) |
Individuals
| Edwin Morgan scrapbooks A glimpse of the early creative work of one of our best loved contemporary Scottish poets (added May 2010) |
Paracelsus A catalogue of works published 1529-1793 preserved in Special Collections (added 2000) |
| George Buchanan 1506-1582 Books illustrating the life and work of the celebrated Renaissance humanist and neo-Latin poet (added 2006) |
William Thomson, Lord Kelvin A selection of letters from the Kelvin collection, celebrating the pioneering Victorian scientist and Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Glasgow: highlights his correspondence with some of the leading scientists of the 19th Century - Boole, Darwin, Jenkin, Joule, Maxwell, Tait and Varley (added 2008) |
| Cullen Papers Selection of papers relating to the foundation of the Chemistry Department (added 1997) |
Leon Trotsky (1879-1940) Highlighting the range of material held in the Library by, and about, a leader of one of the most significant political events of the 20th Century - the Russian Revolution (added 2007) |
| William Jacks A brief biography of the 19th-century businessman, author and translator, who endowed the University of Glasgow with the William Jacks Chair of German Language and Literature (added 2007) |
 Provenance - The ownership history of books A selection showcasing some volumes previously belonging to famous figures of the past (added April 2011)
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University of Glasgow Library Timeline Charts the history of the library from 1451 to 2008 (added 2001; last updated 2008)
In Aedibus Academicis: the Glasgow University Press Books produced by the printers of the University of Glasgow from 1638 until 1982 (added 2008)
British Bookbindings A selection of bindings from the 16th - 19th Century (added 1999)
Printing in England A survey of books by early printers from William Caxton to Christopher Barker (added 2000)
Charles A. Hepburn Bequest English & Scottish Literature; private press books; fine bindings (added 2000)
Old Library Catalogue An introduction to the manuscript of the University Library's catalogue dating from 1691 (added 2007)
Foulis Press Examples of the work from the press founded in Glasgow in the 18th Century by Robert & Andrew Foulis, and their legacy (added 2001)
Women and Books: from the 16th Century to the suffragettes Examines women and the written word through the centurie, ranging from 16th century material, such as early printed guidebooks on childbirth and manuscript collections of recipes, to later examples of material on the women's suffrage movement (added 2002)