Bock, (F.)—Die Kleinodien des heiligen Römischen Reiches Deutscher Nation. 1 vol., large folio. 1864.
Nash, (Joseph)—Windsor Castle. Folio. 1848.
Wyatt, (M. Digby)—The Industrial Arts of the 19th Century. 2 vols., folio. 1853.
[These works, the noblest of their kind, and on the subjects of which they treat, are not only costly but exceedingly useful, more especially the fine illustrations in the “Monuments of Egypt and Ethiopia,” and the “Art Treasures of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation.”]
Expressions of sympathy and gifts of books came from Germany, Italy, America, and, from nearly every town in England.
The chief men of Birmingham met, and subscriptions amounting to nearly £15,000 were given to supplement the amount for which the books had been insured—to raise again and at once what all classes proudly and lovingly called “Our Free Library.”
The buildings in Ratcliff Place have risen again in nobler proportions, and on extended space, the rates for their support are ungrudgingly given, and there is no place better used.
The issue of books extends yearly with the advance of education, and goes on to supply that for which the school creates a demand.
The student will here find placed at his service the most complete and costly works in art, architecture, archæology, botany, natural history, science, theology, politics, poetry, as well as county histories, and topographical works, and sets of all the principal weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual publications, with files of important newspapers, etc., from very early periods to the present time.
The Library contains several special collections: