There are some rare books in the Library which dates back to the 1870s. Some of the books worth mentioning are the collection of plays by William Shakespeare, The Arabian Nights, Rubaiyat's Omar Khayyam etc. All these books are exotically illustrated. Costume designers consult and refer these books while designing for Shakespearian plays in Calcutta.

The collection of Shakespeare's Plays.

     
 The cover of The Merchant of Venice with illustration by Sir James D. Linton P.R.I.
 The first page of the book.
 Bassanio from Act 1, Scene 1
     
 Portia & Nerissa in Act 4, Scene2e 2
 Portia, Bassanio,Nerissa & Gratiano in Act 3, Scene 2.
 Shylock & Jessica in Act 2, Scene 5
     
 Shylock, Portia, Bassanio, Antonio, Nerissa & Gratiano in Act 4, Scene 1.
 The cover of
The Twelfth Night with illustration by
W. Heath Robinson.
 An illustration from Act 2, Scene1
     
 Maria in Ac1, Scene 5.
 Detail of the cover of The Twelfth Night.
 Cover of Tragedy of Romeo & Juliet with illustration by W. Hatherell.
     
 Romeo expressing his love for Juliet
 Juliet
 Romeo & Juliet.

Other Books

     
 The cover of The Arabian Nights
 The first page of the The Arbain Nights
 An illustration from The Arabian Nights
     
 Another illustration from
The Arabian Nights
 The cover of the first edition of Omar Khayyam translated into English by Edward Fitzgerald and illustrated by Edmund J Sullivan
 Stories from the Pentamerone with illustration by Warwick Goble