Rare books
Treasures: A special collection of incunabula and rare books
The rare book collection contains over 2,000 volumes, including manuscripts; incunabula (books printed before 1501); botanical and horticultural volumes enriched with engravings and hand-coloured illustrations from the 16th to the 19th century; prized Chinese agricultural books and much more. Most notable are unique editions of Virgil, Columella and Aristotle. Leading this collection is the library’s earliest printed book, which dates from 1478.
The living forest of Duhamel
To celebrate International Day of Forests, FAO Library is featuring Traité des arbres et arbustes (1755). Its author, Duhamel du Monceau, was a physician and naval engineer who turned his estate into a laboratory for forestry. This work bridges woodland management with botany, featuring 250 woodcuts and 190 engravings. You can see the original volume in the Rare Books room or explore the detailled engravings through our new flipbook.
16 October 2025
80 Flowers for 80 Years
To honor the 80th anniversary of the Organization (1945–2025), FAO Library is showcasing botanical illustrations from the original Hortus Romanus. This extraordinary eight-volume botanical work, published in Rome between 1772 and 1793, is a rare and significant Italian contribution to 18th-century botanical literature that documented the diverse flora of Rome’s historic gardens.
16 October 2025
A tapestry of early print
This installation features a collection of individual pages and finely decorated initials taken from incunabula—books printed before 1501. The display highlights examples of early typography, painted illuminations, and ornate woodcuts.
Visitors can engage up close with the birth of the printed book, transforming the Library’s precious and fragile heritage into an accessible and visually illuminating experience.