One of the largest buildings in the world devoted entirely to rare books and manuscripts, the library has room in the central tower for 180,000 volumes and in the underground book stacks for more than a million volumes. The exterior squares are marble, framed by granite. The marble filters light so that rare materials can be displayed without damage. There is temperature and humidity controls to protect the materials, too.
When you enter you see the glass tower of books that rises through the center of the building. There are rotating exhibits all around the tower. The Gutenberg Bible, the first Western book printed from movable type, and Audubon's Birds of America are on permanent exhibition.
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| The Odyssey of Homer, 1793, 193 illustrations |
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| Book made from a very old quilt |
Yale owns two of a four volume "Birds of America." Joseph
Audubon painted each image, which was then printed from an
etched copper plate, and then hand colored with watercolor paints.
It took 13 years to make 200 sets. 120 sets exist today.
These books are huge and beautiful!
