Collection consists of rare books and other publications that are not part of any other collection or fonds.

Collection illustrates the early development of movable type printing in Europe. Collection consists of printed books including a book of hours and a collection of Chaucer's works, as well as leaves from Bibles, hagiographies, liturgical texts, and works of history, literature, canon law, and botany.

Collection consists of manuscripts (books, leaves, and documents written by hand), mostly from medieval and early modern Europe. Most items were produced in Western and Southern Europe (France, England, Flanders, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Spain), although a few are from the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Many leaves are illuminated and feature decorative initials, borders, line fillers, etc. Most are in Latin, although a few are in medieval vernacular or other languages.

The collection is arranged in series by manuscript type: Books of hours, liturgical books (contains leaves from psalters, breviaries, antiphonals, and graduals), charters, Bibles, and canon law.