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Collected Curiosities

Curator for a Day

As well as over 8 million books, Cambridge University Library is home to many unexpected objects. To complement our major exhibition, Curious Objects, we have collected twenty more curiosities. They range from a biscuit tin globe to advice on 'Bicycling for Ladies'.

Thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Library has photographed these items, including a newly-discovered book of nature prints which belonged to Charles Darwin's grandfather. All these items have been added to this online exhibition of collected curiosities.

Throughout October and November, the public were asked to vote for their favourite objects. Working with conservation and curation staff, students of Long Road Sixth Form and Hills Road Colleges then became curators for a day to create a mini pop-up exhibition of the public's favourites.

The chosen collected curiosities will be on display in the Library's Entrance Hall from 3-10 December.