The Rosenbach — Attraction in Philadelphia

Went here on a whim when I was in Philly for the day and my goodness was it a good choice! I love a good library, for a start, and also old books. I ended up arriving right at 3 o'clock, and they do tours on the hour, so I was just in time for that. There were two of us on the tour, plus the guide, which I quite liked, because it was more of a conversation than a lecture. Lots of interesting old furniture and history to hear on the first floor, followed by rows on rows on rows of books on the upper floors! It was fascinating to see first editions and printings for friends of all these classics I had been forced to read in high school. The woman giving us the tour (and alas, I have forgotten her name) was wonderful, and very informative, but also not afraid to admit when she didn't know details on something such as Jewish literature. Perhaps the most exciting part was to hear that one can request to sit down in the reading room with a certain first edition or such, and I will definitely be adding that to my list the next time I come to Philly! Highly recommend this for anyone with any interest in history, books,...

I learned a lot in this museum thanks to the knowledgeable tour guide Joe who has a great passion for books and manuscripts! If you prefer a self-guided tour (weekends only), the pamphlet and audio guides are also very helpful. The collection page on the museum website shows you things that are not covered by these guides. Scheduling a research appointment is easy.

The only thing is, please keep in mind that the “blind date with the book” at the museum store is a scam. Each book is sold for $22 and wrapped nicely. I was expecting new unused books, and was happy to pay the overprice for the fun. However, inside the packages are very old, used, secondhand books that you can buy for five dollars maximum elsewhere. The stains and folds really disappointed me. I purchased one book as a gift and am glad that I opened the other package to see what’s inside first. My friend would feel disrespected if I sent her that as a gift. Nevertheless, I still appreciated the idea of a blind box. Other things at the museum store, especially their publications, are super cool and worth...

The Rosenbach is a sometimes-overlooked gem. Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach was the foremost antiquarian bookseller in the U. S. for decades, and this was not simply a business for him--he loved books and other historically significant objects and many of his most valuable acquisitions remain at the Rosenbach--among them ms. of Ulysses, the papers of Marianne Moore, two early versions of The Canterbury Tales, a remarkable array of Conrad's mss. as well as a top-notch Lewis Carroll collection and the autograph notes to Bram Stoker's Dracula. And one of the finest Robert Burns collections in the world. Of course, these are not all on display, though there is almost always an exhibition of some of the treasures, and anyone is welcome to consult the collections if you call ahead (or fill out an online form). The staff is knowledgeable and helpful. And keep your eyes open for Burns Night (Jan. 25th)--excellent music, recitations, and, of course,...