Collections of the University Library

The University Library has been acquiring literature from all disciplines since its foundation in the late fifteenth century and currently has a collection of about four million items. Of great value are the historical holdings, such as original manuscripts from India (almost 900) and the Near East (over 900), about 350 occidental medieval manuscripts and 3000 manuscripts from the early modern period, 2200 incunabula and almost 12,000 prints from the sixteenth century. In total, the Rara holdings include about 90,000 volumes, mainly books printed before 1700, first editions or other precious works. The historical holdings also include bequests, manuscripts, autographs, sheet music, portraits, and cadastral maps, as well as an extensive record collection and a cannonball from the siege of Hohentübingen Castle in the seventeenth century. Many of the UB's historical holdings have already been digitized and are freely accessible.

To the collection in the eMuseum (selection)

Each month, an interesting object from the of the University Library's or University Archive's collection is presented under the headin "Object of the month".