Rare Book Week: Treasures of the John Emmerson Collection

See the John Emmerson Collection firsthand in this exclusive Rare Book Week viewing. 

The collection is the most significant gift of rare books State Library Victoria has ever received, containing more than 5,000 titles exploring the turbulent years of the English Civil War and the execution of King Charles I. 

Join Anna Welch, the Library’s Principal Librarian of History of the Book & Arts, to view a selection of the most beautiful and remarkable books from the collection and learn more about the fascinating stories they tell. 

About Anna Welch 

Anna Welch is Principal Librarian of History of the Book & Arts. She is a specialist in medieval and early modern book culture, and is a Partner Investigator in the ARC Linkage Grant project 'Transforming the Early Modern Archive: The John Emmerson Collection at State Library Victoria'. 

About the John Emmerson Collection 

The John Emmerson Collection is held at State Library Victoria. John Emmerson (1938-2014) collected 17th-century English printed works, especially those relating to Charles I and the English Civil War. Emmerson amassed more than 5,000 rare titles, including early newspapers and political pamphlets over 40 years of collecting. 

About Melbourne Rare Book Week 

Rare Book Week is an annual, Melbourne-wide program of free talks and events that celebrate the importance of books, literacy and literature in our lives. It has become a key event in literary Melbourne’s calendar since 2012.