Rare Book Department have accumulated about 160 000 items. Chronological limits of collections – XV–XXI c. It is the largest depository of old books in Lithuania, by its holdings and significanceit rivals the most famous libraries of Eastern Europe. The collection contains:

1. Incunabula - books printed prior to 1500, the first booksusing a printing press (315 items).

   Users may use a catalogue "Lithuanian incunabula" compiled by N. Feigelman published in Vilnius, 1975

2. XVI–XVIII c. Books

   Postincunabula – books printed between 1501 and 1550 (1689 items), described in a catalogue "Postincunabula at Vilnius University Library" (compiled by N. Feigelmanas and I. Daugirdaitė, P. Račius; Vilnius, 2003).

   XVI c. books – publications published in 1551–1600 (3648 items). The collection contains books that belonged to different state and religious institutions and private persons.

   XVII c. books – publications published in 1601–1700 (about 18 000 items). The collection contains many books of scientific and cultural significance.

   XVIII c. books – publications published in 1701–1800 (about 55 000 items). This collection embraces the largest part of the Department holdings. It includes books from Lithuanian manors, cloisters, and personal libraries of eminent bibliophiles of that period.

   Aldines – XV-XVI c. books printed by Venetian publisher Aldo Manutius and his descendants, which are considered a model of printing art (42 items). There is a printed catalogue „Vilniaus universiteto bibliotekos aldai“ (Aldines in Vilnius University Library) (Vilnius, 2008) prepared by Petras Račius.

   Elzeviers – end of XVI c. – beginning of XVIII c. books of Dutch publishers Elzeviers, that were famous for their fine polygraphic exterior and scientific background (418 items). There is a printed catalogue „Vilniaus universiteto bibliotekos elzevyrai“ (Elzeviers in Vilnius University Library) compiled by Petras Račius (Vilnius, 1994).

   Plantins – XVI c. books of excellent polygraphic quality published by Antwerp printer Christophe Plantin and his descendants (about 536 printed items).

   Old Latvian books – XVII–XX c. books in the Latvian language (105 printed items).

   Old Estonian books – XVII–XIX c. books in the Estonian language (12 items).

   Old Slavic books – XVI–XIX c. books, printed in old Slavic alphabet - Cyrillic (392 items).

   XVIII c.Russian books – Grazhdanka – books printed 1708–1800 in a new alphabet introduced by the Tzar Peter I – (872 items).

   Bibliotheca Academiae Vilnensis – Books of old Vilnius University XVI–XIX c. (about 18 000 printed items). After the closure of the University in 1832 the bulk of the collection has been taken out to Russia and returned from there only in the sixth decade of XX c. They are ranged according to their old historic pressmarks. It is one of the most valuable collections in the Library.

3. Old Lithuanian book collection (about 10 000 items) is the national pride.

   It contains publications in the Lithuanian language from 1545 up to 1917. It is the largest full-scale collection of old Lithuanian books in the world. The collection includes one of the two known exemplars of the first Lithuanian book Catechismus by M. Mažvydas, such uniques as the first (extant) book in Lithuanian published in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania - Katekizmas by M. Daukša (Vilnius, 1595), B. Vilentas’ Enchiridion and Evangelias bei epistolas (Karaliaučius, 1579), etc. There is a printed catalog „Senoji lietuviška knyga Vilniaus universitete“ (Old Lithuanian books in Vilnius) (compiled by N. Feigelmanas; Vilnius,1959).

4. Cartography collection – XV–XX c. maps (about 10 000 items) and atlases (up to 1900 – about 700 items).

   It is one of the most significant collections of Vilnius University Library. It is based on the personal collection of Vilnius University professor J. Lelewel (1786-1861). Atlases have been described in the printed catalogue Katalog atlasow Biblioteki Uniwersyteckiej w Wilnie… (Vilnius, 1935-1940) by M.Dzikowski. Separate collections of maps were donated by Vaclovas Dargužas (Andreas Hofer) (136 items) and Vincas Mincevičius (332 items).

5. Libraries of societies

   Medical Society Library – XVI–XX c. books related tomedicine that belonged to the Medical Society that functioned in Vilnius in1805–1914 and 1920–1939 (21 000 items).

   Vilnius-Versailles Library – a collection of documentscompiled by emigrants in Versailles – participants of the 1830-1831 uprising. The major part of the collection – books onPolish history and uprising materials in different languages (about 1070items).

6. Personal collections

   J. Lelewel’s collection – Vilnius University ProfessorJoachim Lelewel’s (1786–1861) personal library, bequeathed to the UniversityLibrary (4 800 items).

   J. Pabrėža’s collection – library of the representative ofLithuanian writing, scientist, Franciscan Jurgis Ambraziejus Pabrėža(1771–1849) (90 items).

   P. Jakštas’ collection – part of personal library donatedby a bibliophile, ethnographer, cultural figure of Lithuania Minor PetrasJakštas (1896–1988) (150 items).

7. Bibliophylic and other publications

   Minimalia – XIX–XX c. small books not more than100 mm inheight (358 items).

   Cimelia – XIX–XXI c. publications of specific museal value,outstanding for its way of printing, illustrations, form or typography (94items).

   Orientalistics – XIX–XX c. publications in languages ofAsian nations (about 50 items).

   Rubricelia – XVIII–XX c. liturgical-informational calendarsfor clergymen (about 1400 items).

   Proclamations – XIX–XX c. printings of one or two pages,related to political, economic and cultural events of this period (about 1415items).

Rules of work with old books and user service.

Rare Book Department collections you can find in electronic or card catalogues.