The historical collections of Mannheim University Library

Mannheim University Library has a large and important collection of historical prints.

The core of this collection is the library of the Jesuit priest Desbillons. When France banned the Jesuits in the 18th century, Elector Palatine Charles Theodore invited him to come to Mannheim. So Desbillons moved with his library to Mannheim where he spent the rest of his life.

Some more collections were donated by citizens of Mannheim in the 19th century.

Mannheim University Library will digitize its collections on a large scale, both with own resources and with support by the DFG. At present, Mannheim University Library digitized historical travel reports from the 16th to the 18th century.

You can search the titles of the historical collections in our library catalogue Primo and watch them freely without any costs. If you can not find the book which you want in digital form, Mannheim University Library will digitize it for you for a small fee. In addition, the originals can be studied at our special reading places in the InfoCenter.