Rare books

The rare books from the Barber Fine Art Library are currently located at the Cadbury Research Library, at the University of Birmingham Edgbaston campus.  They comprise:

  • Auction (sales) and exhibition catalogues dating back to the eighteenth century
  • Nineteenth century journals which contain a rich source of examples of different printing techniques including early coloured printing 
  • Books about art and artists published from 1591 onwards 

The rare books can be searched for on FindIt@Bham

Please contact the Cadbury Research Library in advance to request to view items from the rare books collection: ​  

Examples  

Giovan Antonio Rusconi (c.1520 - c.1587)  

Della architettura di Gio. Antonio Rusconi   

Venice: Gioliti., 1590  

Rusconi was a Venetian architect who worked on the Doge's Palace. His Della architettura is a summary and translation of the ancient Roman author Marcus Pollio Vitruvius with woodcut illustrations  

  

Adam, Robert. 1728-1792.  

Ruins of The Palace of The Emperor Diocletian at Spalatro in Dalmatia   

[London]: Printed for The Author, 1764   

Lavishly illustrated study of the ruins of the imperial place at Split. The variety of room shapes and details influenced Adam’s own style of architecture and interior design.