Classics and Ancient History: Special Collections

The Library’s Special Collections contain a remarkable range of primary sources relevant to Classics and Ancient History at the University of Manchester, including manuscripts, archives, printed books and visual materials.

From thousands of ancient papyrus fragments, through the earliest printed editions of all the major Classical texts, to the archives of modern Classical scholars, our collections have huge potential for your learning and research.

This guide will identify the main collection strengths and help you access the most relevant material.

The many thousands of papyrus fragments discovered in Egypt during the 19th and early 20th centuries are one of the most important sources for studies of the ancient world. We hold an internationally significant collection of Greek papyri, comprising some 2,000 fragments ranging in date from the third century BCE to the seventh century CE.

The collection consists of Classical, biblical, liturgical and medical texts, and important documentary papyri such as business papers, public records, files of local government offices, taxation documents and financial memoranda, including the noted Theophanes Archive. A number of papyri provide important insights into the lives of women in antiquity.

In addition to the 800 published papyrus fragments, there are approximately 1,200 unpublished pieces.

We hold an outstanding collection of Medieval and Renaissance Latin manuscripts, including several texts of Aristotle, Cicero, Lucretius and Virgil.

The equally important collection of Arabic manuscripts contain evidence of the important role that Arabic scholars played in preserving and disseminating Classical texts during the so-called ‘Dark Ages’ in Europe.

The Library holds one of the world’s most important collections of early printed editions of Classical literature.

We hold first editions of fifty leading Greek and Latin authors, including a copy of the first ancient text printed in Greek, Aesop’s Fables, printed in Milan by Bonus Accursius around 1478. The Homeric epics are represented by the first printing of Nicolaus de Valle’s Latin translation (Rome, 1474); the first edition in the original Greek (Florence, 1488); and an illuminated vellum copy of the Aldine edition of 1504.

Few men made a greater contribution to the revival of Classical scholarship than Aldus Manutius, whose Venetian press issued almost thirty editiones principes in the original Greek. The Library holds the vast majority of these, including Aristotle (1495–8), Theocritus (1496), Aristophanes (1498), Thucydides (1502), Sophocles (1502), Herodotus (1502), Demosthenes (1504), Plato (1513), Aeschylus (1518) and Hippocrates (1526).

Cicero is represented by 75 editions before 1501. There are no less than 22 editions of Virgil printed before 1480. We have 800 editions, translations and commentaries of Horace, beginning with the Venetian edition of 1471/2.

The Library also holds extensive collections of works published in the Loeb and Teubner series of Classical texts.

We have outstanding collections of books and archives relating to the Classical Revival from the 15th century onwards. Apart from editions of the Classics mentioned above, there are important architectural books showing the Classical influences on Leon Battista Alberti, Colen Campbell, Christopher Wren, Robert Adam, John Soane and others. Likewise Sir William Hamilton’s Campi Phlegraei and a complete set of Piranesi’s engravings show the profound influence of Classicism on the fine and applied arts.

Diaries and letters within estate archives reveal the importance of the Grand Tour and of actual encounters with Classical remains in shaping attitudes towards the ancient world. We also hold the archives of academic Classicists such as Edward Freeman and John Strachan.

What are Special Collections?

The University of Manchester Library holds one of the finest collections of rare books, manuscripts, archives and visual collections in the world. These collections are mainly concentrated in the magnificent building on Deansgate, The John Rylands Research Institute and Library, in the centre of Manchester. They are also housed in the Main Library on the University campus and at the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre, in Manchester Central Library. This resource introduces the different types of materials found in Special Collections and explains how they can be used to support your studies. For general tips on accessing digital and physical collections and visiting our reading room please look at our other Medium resources.

You are welcome to make use of Special Collections in your learning and research.

Due to the special nature of the material, we provide access in a controlled environment and there are some restrictions on use and access, particularly for fragile material or modern archives which may contain sensitive data.

Please read our guidance pages on the web for details.