Asiatic Society Library in Kolkata. With the help of membership donations, the library has amassed a sizable collection of rare and distinctive books. For instance, Henri Richardson displayed seven Persian manuscripts in 1784.

A Tibetan xylograph, an embellished Quran manuscript, an old Gulistan book, and manuscripts of the Badshanamah bearing Shahjahan’s signature are among the items on display. The volumes on art and architecture, history, literature, archaeology, Ayurveda, medicine, folklore, biographies, travel, and more are kept in the ancient and new buildings, which are home to more than 28 different languages.

The oldest bound book in the Metcalfe Hall library’s collection is the Philosophical Transactions from 1669.