Books published by Bodleian Library

What can be found in the Vatican's Secret Archive? How many books did Charles Darwin's library aboard the Beagle hold? Which library is home to a colony of bats?Packed with unusual facts and statistics, this is the perfect volume for library enthusiasts, bibliophiles and readers everywhere.

Featuring pets, farmyard animals, big cats and wild beasts, this beautifully presented book is the perfect gift for animal lovers and all those with an interest in this quirky linguistic tradition.

Illustrated with charming contemporary line drawings, this little book is full of no-nonsense, old-fashioned parenting advice: a gem of a guide for anyone new to the hardest job in the world.

A piano attachment for camp concerts is just one of the absurd inventions to be found in this book of cartoons designed to keep spirits up during the Second World War. These intricate comic drawings poke gentle fun at both the instruments of war and the indignity of the air-raid shelter in Heath Robinson's inimitable style.

Taking fifty quotations centring on flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables, this book marries the beauty of Shakespeare's lines with charming contemporary renderings of the plants he described so vividly.

The humpback whales journey through polar seas. Will they escape the hunters and guide baby whale to safety? Telling the story of the life cycle of the whale in a simple narrative, this is a beautifully illustrated book with timeless appeal.

From the tale of the goatherd whose animals became frisky on coffee berries to a duchess with a goblet of poisoned chocolate, this book, illustrated with eighteenth-century satirical cartoons and early advertisements, tells the extraordinary story of our favourite hot drinks.

Contrary to popular belief, the author of the first English dictionary is not Samuel Johnson, but Robert Cawdrey, who published his Table Alphabeticall in 1604 - nearly 150 years before Johnson's dictionary.

This beautifully illustrated alphabet book is perfect for children starting at nursery for the first time. Bright, animated pictures designed around each letter show children happily playing: building with bricks, sifting sand, listening to stories, singing, dancing and riding on the rocking horse. The rhyming text is ideal for reading out loud.

In this tongue-in-cheek guide, illustrated by Heath Robinson's inimitable cartoons and contraptions, there are many charmingly old-fashioned tips for how to succeed in almost all aspects of married life. First published in 1937, this book makes a highly amusing gift for those who are considering tying the knot or wish to celebrate wedded bliss.

Through gentle verse this charming book, first published in the 1950s, explores a surprising range of items and sounds that come in round shapes. Striking and vibrant illustrations by Vladimir Bobri add humour and warmth to this joyful geometrical exploration for young children.

The thirteen letters collected by Jane Austen's House Museum, in Chawton, give us intimate glimpses into her life in Bath and Chawton and on visits to London, many details finding echoes in her fiction. Brought together in this book, these artefacts make a delightful modern-day keepsake of correspondence from one of the world's best-loved writers.

Ever wondered how ink is made? Or what is the bestselling book of all time? Or which are the oldest known books in the world?The ideal gift for every bibliophile, 'The Book Lovers' Miscellany' is full of fun facts, potted histories and curious lists, perfect for dipping into and sharing.

Based mainly on examples in the Bodleian Library, this lavishly illustrated account tells the story of manuscript production from the early Middle Ages to the high Renaissance. Each stage of production is described, from the preparation of the parchment, pens, paints and inks to the writing of the scripts and the illumination of the manuscript.

Little Jonny ponders the meaning of colours as he explores the landscape. The vibrant primary colours of Vladimir Bobri's illustrations, together with a simple narrative, which follows the natural rhythm of the seasons, make this a stunning and enduring colours book for young children.

This charming bedtime book explores the different ways animals slumber, from familiar pets like cats and dogs, cosy in their baskets, to the less well-known cricket and moth. The gentle and timeless language combines with exquisite illustrations to create a calm, comforting text that is the perfect precursor to nodding off.

This illustrated volume, researched and written by experts in the field, explores contemporary theatrical documents (playbills, set designs, musical scores) and images (paintings, prints and illustrations) in seeking to explain what counted as history and historical truth for the writers, performers and audiences of these plays.

First published in 1938, the book gives an insight into gardening trends on the eve of the Second World War while also addressing common concerns faced by gardeners. Poking gentle fun at a British obsession with a detailed illustration on almost every page, this book will delight both aspiring and experienced gardeners alike.

Through a combination of lists, statistics and bitesize nuggets of information, 'Bodleianalia' reveals many of the quirks of fate, eccentric characters and remarkable events which have contributed to the making of this renowned institution. The perfect book for trivia-lovers and bibliophiles.

Of equal appeal to general readers, designers and typographers, this book is a vibrant cultural guide to fifty of the most remarkable typefaces.

This book explores the stories behind seventy-five extraordinary maps. Drawing on the unique collection in the Bodleian Library, these stunning maps range from single cities to the solar system, span the thirteenth to the twenty-first century and cover most of the world.

This books chronicles the ingenious ways of dying in Shakespeare, from suicide to murder, and from workaday dagger to baroque pie recipe. Illustrated with contemporary images, it establishes the cultural, religious and social contexts for thinking about early modern death.

For more than three centuries Oxford has been the subject of fine illustrated books and engraved prints. The best of these historic prints are reproduced here to create a panorama of classical Oxford, offering an instructive and captivating view of Oxford through the ages.

Veronica the hippopotamus lives with her large family on the cool muddy river bank, swimming in its clear waters. She dreams of becoming a famous hippopotamus, noticed by everyone. But will her dream of becoming a conspicuous hippopotamus ever be realized?