The contribution of the H.S.G.M.E. library to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage is invaluable, as it houses a rare and precious collection of printed material.
Out of the library’s 12,000 books, 277 belong to the “Rare Editions” collection. These include original prints, photographs, hand-drawn maps, and engravings that stand out as some of the few surviving copies worldwide in the field of geosciences.
A prominent place in the rare editions collection is held by the book titled "Reise dureh alle Theile des Königreiches Griechenland des Auftrag der Königl. Griechischen Regierung. Erster Theil", a work by G. K. Fiedler, prepared on behalf of the then Greek Government during the reign of King Otto. It is the oldest book in the collection, dating back to the 19th century, specifically to the year 1840.
The oldest book in the “Rare Editions” collection of the H.S.G.M.E. Library dates back to the 19th century, specifically to the year 1840. It was prepared on behalf of the Greek Government during the reign of King Otto. Its title is: "Reise dureh alle Theile des Königreiches Griechenland des Auftrag der Königl. Griechischen Regierung. Erster Theil - G. K. Fiedler, 1840".
There are also 44 additional editions from the 19th century (from 1840 onwards), 134 editions from the first half of the 20th century, and 99 rare, unique, and out-of-print editions published between 1950 and 1993, while 316 are scientific publications of H.S.G.M.E. (1951–1994).
They are preserved in a specially designed area of the library under controlled temperature and lighting conditions. Most of the books in this collection have been digitized, and public interest in them remains high.
Bibliographic searches can be carried out through the library’s online catalog at https://libraryigme.openabekt.gr/
