Welcome to Special Collections

The Special Collections unit of the Michigan State University Libraries collects, houses, and preserves rare and unique materials within the MSU Libraries. Our materials cover a vast array of topics from Africana to Veterinary Medicine. These materials are available to the public in our reading room.

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Georg Ruxner's, Anfang, Upsprung und Herkommen des Thurniers inn Teutscher Nation [Siemern, 1530], presents a historical sketch of tournaments held in Germany from the 10th century to the one held in Worms in 1487. The text provides information on the origin and ritual of the tournament, descriptions and lists of participants, while the 41 woodcuts give action pictures and scenes of the dances and festivities that were as essential a part as the fighting itself. There are also 246 cuts of the coats of arms of notable warriors. The contemporary roll-stamped pigskin binding has the arms of the city of Torgan.

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Did you Know...

• Special Collections has many Black Sun Press publications, including one of 500 copies of James Joyce's Tales Told of Shem and Shaun, (Paris, 1930). From the Literature Materials.
• The Citizen and Countryman's Experienced Farrier (Wilmington, Delaware, 1764) stands as the first American printed work on horses. Among the authors cited are "Discreet Indians." This title is part of the Veterinary Medicine Collection.

Map to the Reading Room in MSU Library