Discover items from National Library collections that featured in past displays held in our George IV Bridge building in recent years.
This small sample of collection items includes hand-written documents, printed books, maps, musical scores, photographs, bindings and other art work.
See also: Past exhibitions
Sir Walter Scott and the Historical Novel
12 November 2021 to 28 May 2022.
Sir Walter Scott's role in the development of the historical novel.
'The Heart of Mid-Lothian' comics
12 November 2021 to 28 May 2022.
Works inspired by Sir Walter Scott's 'The Heart of Mid-Lothian' by Edinburgh College of Art students.
The eye of a stranger: Henrietta Liston's travels
10 July to 6 November 2021.
The story of Henrietta Liston - the wife of a British diplomat - and her travels in the Ottoman Empire.
Allan Ramsay: Writing the Scots Enlightenment
18 February to 16 May 2020.
Celebrating the life and works of the Scottish poet and playwright.
At the Water's Edge: Photographs from the MacKinnon Collection
16 November to 15 February 2020.
Past scenes from Scotland's seas and waterways captured on camera.
1 August 2019 to 12 November 2019.
Revisiting the 1980s through the Library's collections.
18 April 2019 to 27 July 2019.
The story of the first publication of Lord Byron's 'Don Juan'.
25 years of the Elizabeth Soutar Bookbinding Competition
21 February 2019 to 13 April 2019.
Award-winning decorative bookbindings.
4 October 2018 to 13 February 2019.
The life and anti-slavery work of Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) and his family.
21 June to 29 September 2018.
Young people interpret Scottish women's First World War experiences.
12 April to 17 June 2018.
Exploring 18th-century Scottish poetry book illustrations.
'The Scotsman': 200 years of a Scottish newspaper
18 January to 8 April 2018.
The story of the iconic Edinburgh-based newspaper.
The Reformation: What was it all about?
19 October 2017 to 14 January 2018.
How Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation.
24 August to 15 October 2017.
The extraordinary partnership of Kulgin Duval and Colin Hamilton.
6 July to 20 August 2017.
Visually stunning material from the South Asia collections.
30 March to 2 July 2017.
Celebrating 200 years of Edinburgh's influential periodical.
30 November 2016 to 26 March 2017.
Scotland and the photographically illustrated book, 1845-1900.
Jessie Kesson: 'The sma perfect'
22 September until 25 November 2016.
Manuscripts, books and letters from Jessie Kesson's archive.
Robert Adam: The beautiful spirit of antiquity
16 June until 18 September 2016.
The work and influences of the architect Robert Adam.
26 November 2015 until 13 March 2016.
Some of the most beautiful books ever printed.
'The thirty-nine steps' — one hundred years on
10 September until 22 November 2015.
Books and letters celebrate the novel's centenary.
Hugh Buchanan paints the John Murray Archive
25 June until 6 September 2015.
New watercolours celebrate original literary treasures.
The Forth Bridge: Building an icon
1 April to 21 June 2015.
Exploring the construction and opening of the Forth Bridge.
21 January to 29 March 2015.
Commemorating the end of the American Civil War.
The life and collection of James Mann Wordie
20 November 2014 to 18 January 2015.
James Wordie and Shackleton's Trans-Antarctic Expedition.
10 September to 16 November 2014.
The story behind Walter Scott's blockbuster first novel.
9 July to 7 September 2014.
A sample of the diverse nature of the Commonwealth.
Robert Burns's Glenriddell Manuscripts
23 January to 30 March 2014.
The greatest collection of Burns's handwritten work.
Pop up!: Movable and pop-up books
20 November 2013 to 19 January 2014.
Some of the most delightful items in the national collections.
A tiny universe: Miniature books in Scotland
18 September to 17 November 2013.
Little marvels from specialist Scottish book publishers.
'200 years of "Pride and Prejudice": From Austen to zombies'
10 July to 15 September 2013.
A look at one of the greatest novels written in English.
3 May to 7 July 2013.
Marking two major anniversaries for Scotland's sacred isle.
1 March to 30 April 2013.
The legacy of some remarkable Scottish women scientists.
21 November 2012 to 3 February 2013.
The art and history of a favourite British comic.
19 September to 18 November 2012.
Celebrating 200 years of Grimm's fairy tales.
4 July to 16 September 2012.
Revolution and its role in the founding of the USA.
'It's life Jimmy, but not as we know it'
28 March to 30 June 2012.
A look at 30 years of Scotland's science fiction.
12 January to 25 March 2012.
Captain Scott's Antarctic Expedition of 1910-1913.
2 November 2011 to 8 January 2012.
Marking the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.
'Scottish working people's history'
2 September to 31 October 2011
Workers' efforts to improve labour and social conditions.
1 July to 31 August 2011.
The story of the ill-fated Scottish colony in the 1690s.
5 May to 28 June 2011
Celebrating the Scottish philosopher's 300th birthday.
18 March to 2 May 2011.
Lewis Carroll's delightful tales about Alice's adventures.
'Building the Bell Rock Lighthouse'
12 January to 28 February 2011.
Robert Stevenson's great engineering achievement.