Eton College: College Library Gallery

More overwhelming for bibliophiles in large.

Well, today was extraordinary... I spent the day in The College Library at Eton (another one of the collections off the cloisters), and while the morning was stimulating (spent on reading room tasks and learning about library work), the afternoon was wondrous, including an amazing tour of the library collections and spectacular library itself (designed by Rowland, and competed in 1729). The sun was out, and crisp wintry light poured through the library's large windows catching the shelves and leather-, pigskin-, and cloth-bound volumes superbly.

The original library is found over two levels (with spiral staircases with extra secret stairs for access), with the most precious books kept elsewhere in strongrooms and Lupton's Tower. The library itself is incredible ornate (see extra), and the collections include many treasures both ancient and modern, and significant to literature, religion(s), and the sciences (inc. some personal heroes). Some were particularly aesthetically pleasing, employing precious pigments and artistic devices.

I was blown away, so have shared quite a few on Flickr (as you can see above, or right from here).