The Department of Manuscripts and Rare Books keeps materials, which are of significance not only for Latvian, but also for European and World culture.

Documents cover a historical period of more than seven centuries, beginning with the 13th century. It should be mentioned that for many centuries the Baltic region was under the impact of many different cultures (German, Swedish, Polish and Russian). It influenced the development of science and culture in this region and also the formation of the library funds.

The manuscripts collection (20 500 items) contains different chronicles, travelogues, genealogies, archives of Latvian cultural workers and materials of many world-famous scientists, writers, artists and prominent statesmen: Martin Luther, Philipp Melanchton, Napoleon, Louis Pasteur, Jakob Michael Reinhold Lenz, Johann Kaspar Lavater, Friedrich Schiller, Ferenc Liszt, Hans Christian Andersen.

The oldest manuscripts in the library are those from the 13th century – “Psalterium Davidis”, “Parabolae Salomonis”, also "Missale Rigense" from the 14th century, the 15th century prayer book from France with a calendar and magnificent miniatures.

Of the greatest historical and cultural importance is the collection of the historian, chronicler of his time and draftsman Johann Christoph Brotze (1742-1823). This collection "Sammlung verschiedener Lieflandischer Monumente..." in 10 volumes contains thousands of drawings and descriptions and documents depicting the history, architecture, daily life of Riga, Latvia and Estonia.

The collection of rare publications (32000 items, 15th-19th centuries) contains the oldest European books - 210 incunabula. Two of them – “Plenarium” (1496, Venice) and “Missale Viburgense” (1500, Lübeck) are the only known copies in the world.

An outstanding place is occupied by editions of Martin Luther published in Wittenberg, mainly of polemic nature, most of which were addressed to like-minded persons in Riga, Tallinn and Tartu, appealing to promote secular education, to found schools and libraries.

The library contains the richest collection in Latvia of the publications by Nicolaus Mollyn, the first book printer in Riga, who worked there from 1588 to 1625.

The collection of old Latvian printings represents the beginning and development of Latvian culture and book publishing. Alongside with the first publications printed in Riga in the 16th century there is a great number of books published in the Latvian language in the 17th century: Georg Manzel's reference book "Lettisch Vademecum" (1631), the dictionary ”Lettus” (1638) - one of the first publications of secular contents in Latvian, the book of sermons "Lettische Postill" (1654), the first full edition of the Bible (1685-1694), the most extensive printed work in Latvian language for several centuries (about 2500 pages).

The Department also keeps old maps, posters, photographs, periodicals and drawings.

The collection of rare publications

32000 items, 15th-19th centuries contains the oldest European books - 210 incunabula. Two of them – “Plenarium” (1495, Venice) and “Missale Viburgense” (1500, Lübeck) are the only known copies in the world.

The library contains the richest collection in Latvia of the publications by Nicolaus Mollyn, the first book printer in Riga

Of the greatest historical and cultural importance is the collection of the historian, chronicler of his time and draftsman Johann Christoph Brotze (1742-1823).