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Martin Chemnitz Library houses an impressive collection of rare, antiquarian books dating back to the early 16th century. Highlights include various editions of Luther’s Works, including six of the eight volumes of the Jena edition published in the mid-1500s, the entire Leipzig edition, which dates from 1729 to 1774, and the complete 24-volume set of the Walch edition, from 1740 to 1753.
Writings by other prominent theologians of the 16th-19th century are also included in the holdings. Authors include Johann Arndt (1555-1621), Paolo Sarpi (1552-1623), Christian Scriver (1629-1693), Philipp Jakob Spener (1635-1705), Valentine Ernst Loescher (1673-1749), and Wilhelm Loehe (1808-1872).
A list of authors represented in our rare book collection is available here and also by selecting the Reformation Rare Book Room from the library field when searching resources in our catalogue.
Our Reformation Rare Book Room, dedicated in 2017 at the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, houses our 16th, 17th, and 18th century volumes. Access to the room is strictly supervised and you are encouraged to contact the library in advance of your visit.
Media
Luther Editions through the Centuries Slideshow
Illustrations of the Life of Martin Luther Slideshow
Watermarks in Rare Books Slideshow
Luther Pamphlets (1520-39)
In 2024 the Reformation Rare Book Room received a donation of a volume containing six original printings of writings by Dr Martin Luther (see the news story here). These are the oldest documents in the collection. You may view a scan of the complete document below.
Contents:
| Title | Modern edition & English translation |
|---|---|
| Treatise on Good Works (1520) | WA 6:202–76, AE 44:17-114 |
| A Treatise on the New Testament, that is, the Holy Mass (1520) | WA 6:353–78; AE 35:77–111 |
| A Letter of Dr Martin Luther to the Christians at Antwerp (1525) | WA 18:547-50 |
| A Letter to those in Frankfurt on the Main (1533) | WA 30.3:558-71, CJ 16.4:333-51 |
| appended: A Letter to the Council and Entire Congregation of the City of Mühlhausen (1524) | WA 15:230–40 |
| A Letter of Dr Martin Luther against the Sabbatarians, to a Good Friend (1538) | WA 50:312-37 |
| The 53rd Chapter of the Prophet Isaiah, on the Suffering and Glorification of Christ, Expounded by Dr Martin Luther (1539) | WA 25:325–39 |
WA=Weimar Ausgabe, the standard critical edition of the original texts
AE=American Edition, the standard English translation
CJ=Concordia Journal
Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary 