5000 Years of the Printed Word
Inside the Parkway Central location of the Free Library of Philadelphia (1901 Vine Street), the Rare Book Department holds over five millennia-worth of rare books, manuscripts, artwork and ephemera from around the world.
Cuneiform, 2000 BC
The Quran, printed in North Africa, 15th Century
Hand-drawn letter outlining The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, 1883
First Edition copy of Frederick Douglass’ autobiography, 1857
Page from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, on papyrus
Leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, 15th Century
Leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, 15th Century
Ethiopian Manuscript, early 11th century
Grip, Charles Dickens’ pet raven and the inspiration for Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven”
Charles Dickens’ inkwell and writing desk
Charles Dickens’ writing desk
Tours are offered daily Monday through Friday at 11am.