Special collections

Manuscripts, rare books, graphic works, maps, sheet music, Turicensia and more are preserved and made accessible in our special collections.

Rare books

From early prints to bibliophilic rarities, the Rare Books Department preserves valuable cultural heritage for researchers and the public. This can be...

Pictures, graphic works, photos, art

Our collection holds drawings, watercolours, prints, postcards, photographs, paintings, sculptures and specialist literature.

Manuscripts, estates and archive materials

The manuscript collection collects and preserves unique specimens from medieval monastic culture to the Reformation and the Age of Enlightenment, and...

Maps and panoramas

We preserve maps and related depictions of the whole world from the early modern era to the present day. Our collection is one of the largest in Centr...

Music

Sheet music to borrow, sound recordings to listen to, prints, manuscripts, estates, archives and music libraries to explore – music is our primary foc...

Turicensia – focus on Zurich

Zurich’s cultural heritage: we collect and disseminate media on the history, politics, economy and culture of the city and canton of Zurich – known as...