Turnbull General Collection

The Turnbull General Collection forms part of the Alexander Turnbull Library collections.

The collection was developed from the collecting interests of Alexander Horsburgh Turnbull, and is particularly strong in 19th and early 20th century English literature.

The main collecting focus now is to support other specialist areas in the Turnbull Library collections, especially material relating to the works of John Milton and the history of print culture.

More about the Milton Collection

More about the Special Printed Collections

The Turnbull General Collection includes:

• accounts of voyages and travels
• supporting literature about the works of Milton
• bibliographies, including many historical library catalogues
• biographies
• family history resources
• limited and first editions, and fine printing
• examples of 19th and early 20th century trade bindings
• 19th and early 20th century accounts of historical events.
• 19th and early 20th century editions of English literature
• a research collection of children's literature which includes over 500 titles dating from 1799 to 2000

More about the Alexander Turnbull Library collections

Planned changes to collection access

Our collections will be relocated while the Library building in Wellington is being redeveloped. During the relocation period, some collections will be available in two temporary locations: Archives New Zealand and a location on Thorndon Quay.

Relocation period availability:

• Almost all of the items in the Turnbull General Collection will be unavailable.
• The children's literature and Milton support collections will be available at Archives New Zealand. There will be temporary closures while they are packed and moved.
• You may be able to source copies of materials in this collection through other libraries. Our staff can assist you with this.

We expect to finalise the dates of the relocation later in 2009. We will give you at least one month’s notice of collection access changes and closures.

For more information email atl@natlib.govt.nz

Find out more about planned changes to collection access

Access items in this collection

You can request items for viewing at the Research Centre on the ground floor of the National Library. 

Much of this collection is not catalogued online so you will need to check the Alexander Turnbull Library’s microfiche card catalogue. The catalogue may also be available through your local library.

There are online records for all the supporting literature relating to Milton.

Get copies from items in this collection

Talk to staff in the Turnbull Library Research Centre about making copies of items in this collection.

More about making copies

More about copyright and usage

Get help

We can answer your enquiries in person, by letter, phone or email. To find out what is in the collection or to request an item or copy, contact the Turnbull Research Centre. For information about the collection and its management contact the Curator, Special Printed Collections.