The section of rare books is somewhat complex, as it contains works printed at different times —ranging from the 16th to the 19th century— that cover various topics.
There are many books written in the 16th and 17th centuries on Valencia and its history: several collections of the Furs (15
65, 1588, 1606, 1635), of Fori Regni Valentiae (1547-1548, 1545, 1555), and of the Repertori general de totes les materies dels Furs. There is also a copy of the very rare Institucions del Furs, written by Pedro Jerónimo Tarazona in 1580.
The library also holds a copy of Ramón Muntaner’s Chronica on Jaume I (1558), a very rare copy of the history of Valencia by Pedro Antonio Beuter (1538), or of the work Décadas by Gaspar Escolano (1610-1611), as well as the Crónicas by Martín de Viciana, with equally rare engravings.
There are numerous Capitols, privilegis... from the 17th century, concerning the finances and administration of the city and kingdom of Valencia, as well as Ordenes Reales tocantes a la Tabla de Valencia (Taula de Canvis).
Volum e recopilació de tots los Furs y actes de Cort ... que tracten ... de la Deputació y Generalitat de la ciutat y regne de Valencia ... is a very rare work, printed by Felip Mey's widow in 1625, from the library of Mr. Onofre Soler.
Also worth highlighting are the works about the management of the Almudín (1645) or about the Fábrica de Murs i Valls published in 1632 and 1675, the latter by José Lop, without forgetting Aureum opus in 1538.
On matters related to the University of Valencia, the library holds the constitutions published throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, from 1611 to 1744, and the Curriculum of 1787.
The editions of Vives and Palmireno printed during the 16th century, either in Latin or in Spanish, are worth highlighting, as well as the works by Greek and Roman classical authors and by Renaissance Italian authors.
In the field of religious works, there are several bibles: the Complutensian Polyglot Bible, published between 1514 and 1517; the Biblia sacra supervised by Arias Montano, printed by Plantin in Antwerp between 1569 and 1572; the Biblia Hebraica, printed also by Plantin in 1584; and the Bible Graeca was published in Venice in 1518.
The library also holds the only copy of the Passio domini nostril Jesu Christi, which comes from the Monastery of Montesa, and a very rare copy of Missale iuxta ritum Alme Ecclesie Valentine (1509).
Vita Christi, by Sister Isabel Villena, was published in Valencia (1513) and in Barcelona (1527), as well as works by Ramon Llull, including the rare Blanquerna in 1521. Equally rare is Llibre de Consells by Jaume Roig (1531). The sermons of St. Vicent Ferrer were published in 1513, 1523, 1539 and 1572.
The first edition of Trabajos de Persiles y Segismunda by Miguel de Cervantes was published in 1617. It is a very rare edition printed in Madrid by Juan de la Cuesta.
Worth noting are the works of Abraham Ortelius, "Theatro de la tierra universal", printed in Antwerp by Plantino in 1588, with the printer's autograph dedication to the Prince of Spain Felipe de Austria, and "Theatrvm orbis terrarvm" also printed by Plantino in 1595.
Of the eighteenth century are notable, among others, the works of Pascual Esclapés de Guilló and Francisco Ortiz y Figuerola. From the first is the " Resumen historial de la fundación, i antiguedad de la ciudad de Valencia..." published by Antonio Bordazar in 1738. From this same printer are the " Fiestas centenarias... 9 de octubre de 1738" published in 1740 due to the pen of José Vicente y Mayor. Of the second, Ortiz and Figuerola, are the " Memorias históricas de la fundación y progresos de la insigne Universidad de Valencia..." printed in Madrid, by Antonio Marín, in 1730. During the 18th century, the works of Carles Ros were published, the "Rondalla de rondalles..." by Luis Galiana, and "Llibres d'oracions" by Fray Anselmo de Turmeda.
From the Library of the Duke of Osuna, it is the dictionary of the Castilian language known as the Diccionario de Autoridades in 6 volumes (1726-1739). Also noteworthy are the editions of the works of Gregorio Mayans and Siscar.
In the 19th century we have some curious publications, for example, the 3608 programs of the Teatro Principal (and Teatro de la Princesa), from 1839 to 1893, printed at Ferrer de Orga's house, and periodicals, most of which are numbers loose:
- Boletín de la gran Asociación de Beneficencia, 1ª época, n. 1-58 (nov. 1853-agost. 1858), 2ª época, n. 1-155 (dic. 1862-oct. 1875).
- Las Brisas del Cabañal: periodico de verano. Soplo 1ª, 1862
- La Donsayna: colesió de música alegre y divertida en solfa valenciana... Los 13 n. publicados (1 dic. 1844 a 23 feb. 1845). Fue continuada por El Tabalet y El Sueco
- El Tabalet: semanarivalensia, dedicat a la chent de bon humor. Los 13 n. publicados del 2 marz. al 31 de julio (1847). Según Palau y Dulcet esta 1ª edición es muy rara
- El Sueco... n. 4 (1851)
- El Eco de los Silos. n. 1 (1864)
- El Farrago: periodico sin ton ni son... n. 3 (1867)
- La Glorieta: pasatiempo nocturno de confianza. n. 3 y 4 de 1864
- La Lira: periodico literario y de intereses materiales. Alicante, 1855
- Papel d'estraza: periodicoeclectico destinado a la posteridad. Año I, n. 1-7 (1866)
- El Pensamiento de Valencia: revista política, religiosa, científica y literaria. 1 junio-dic. 1857. 1 ene.-31 mayo 1858
- El Tio Leña: colección de extravagancias. Entrega 10ª, 1850
- El Saltamarti, 1861-1862 (varios números)
- El Tiburon: almanaque ilustrado. Barcelona, año V, 1867.
