Editing Rosenbach Museum (section)

== Collection Highlights ==

The Rosenbach holds more than 130,000 manuscripts and 30,000 rare books, including:

=== Literary Manuscripts ===

* '''James Joyce's ''Ulysses''''' — The handwritten manuscript of one of the 20th century's most important novels, considered a premier treasure. Dr. Rosenbach acquired a first edition in 1922, smuggled into the country when the book was banned.
* '''Bram Stoker's notes for ''Dracula''''' — The author's working papers for the gothic classic
* '''Lewis Carroll's ''Alice in Wonderland''''' — Carroll's own copy of the first edition

=== Historic Documents ===

* '''George Washington's earliest extant letter''' — The first surviving letter written by the future president
* '''Benjamin Franklin's first ''Poor Richard's Almanack''''' — The only surviving copy
* '''Milton's ''Paradise Lost''''' — Tonson's assignment copy
* '''First edition of ''Don Quixote''''' — One of the earliest printings

=== Poetry Collections ===

* The most extensive collection of Robert Burns manuscripts in existence
* Manuscripts of William Wordsworth, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats
* A celebrated love letter from Keats to Fanny Brawne
* Thomas Gray's letters

=== Marianne Moore Collection ===

The Rosenbach has a special relationship with modernist poet Marianne Moore (1887-1972). The museum acquired virtually all of her manuscripts and correspondence, and when she bequeathed her belongings to the institution, her Greenwich Village apartment living room was recreated as a permanent installation. This collection earned the Rosenbach designation as a National Literary Landmark.