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Archives and Manuscripts

Includes many European unpublished records dating from antiquity to the 20th century. The manuscripts contain material in some 25 different languages. The (mainly) 20th-century archives concentrate on material in English. They include papers of eminent figures in medical science and related areas, as well as records of numerous and diverse organisations.

Asian Collection

Comprises some 12 000 manuscripts and 4000 printed books in 43 different languages. The collection includes over 1000 manuscripts written on palm leaves, and others transcribed on silk, ivory, metal, bone, bamboo and tree bark. A medical prescription from ancient Egypt, written on papyrus (c.1100 BCE), is the earliest document in the Wellcome Library.
 

Rare Books Collection

Approximately 60 000 pre- 1851 rare books including c.600 incunabula (books printed before 1501) and c.5000 books from the 16th century. All aspects of medical science and practice are represented, and there are wide and varied holdings in allied subjects.

Medical Collection

An international collection of medical and scientific literature reflecting the course of medical thought and practice in different social and cultural settings. Comprises thousands of medical monographs, anatomical atlases, pharmacopoeias, 20 000 items of medical ephemera, a growing number of electronic resources and much more.
 

History of Medicine Collection

A collection of books, journals and other print materials, and electronic resources, dealing with the history of all aspects of medical science and practice, as well as allied scientific disciplines, social sciences and humanities. Currently comprises over 80 000 volumes in many languages, published from 1850 to the present day.

Medicine and Society Collection

An extensive collection of printed and electronic resources providing information on a diverse range of subjects, including popular science, consumer health, biomedical science policy, research ethics, science education and public engagement with science.
 

Paintings, Prints and Drawings

Over 100 000 prints, drawings, paintings, photographs and other media, ranging in date from the 14th century to the present.

Moving Image and Sound Collection

Over 1300 films, 3500 videos and 1500 sound recordings aimed at professional and non-professional audiences, spanning 100 years of medicine and healthcare.
 

Wellcome Images

Provides access to the visual resources of the Wellcome Library, from illustrations in manuscripts and rare books to painting, prints and photographs. It also has a large collection of contemporary clinical and biomedical images from teaching hospitals, research laboratories and photographers throughout the UK and beyond. Over 160 000 images are available for publication or study.

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