Topographical prints, predominantly of Co. Durham and adjacent counties, some loose, some in albums and extra-illustrated volumes.
Over two-thirds of the collection relates to Co. Durham (roughly 300 prints up to 1800, 900 post-1800). There are about 200 prints of Northumberland, 150 of Cumberland and Westmorland, and 20 of other places.
Loose prints are arranged by county and then alphabetically by place.
Open for consultation.
Acquired by gift and purchase from many sources over many years.
An online catalogue of the Co Durham topographical prints, together with those held by Durham County and Cathedral Libraries, Sunderland City Library, Sunderland City Museum and some items from the Laing Gallery and British Library, created by the Pictures in Print project is now available at http://valentine.dur.ac.uk/pip/index.html. This supercedes Phyllis M. Benedikz, Durham Topographical Prints up to 1800 (Durham, 1968). A manuscript sheaf index of prints relating to other areas, arranged by county and then alphabetically by place, is in the Search Room.
Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Sub-Librarian, Special Collections (e-mail PG.Library@durham.ac.uk) and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.
