Pepys Library

Samuel Pepys was a lifelong bibliophile and carefully nurtured his large collection of books, manuscripts, and prints.

At his death, there were more than 3,000 volumes, including the diary, all carefully catalogued and indexed; they form one of the most important surviving 17th-century private libraries.

Pepys made detailed provisions in his will for the preservation of his book collection, and when his nephew and heir, John Jackson, died in 1723, it was transferred intact to Magdalene.

The bequest included all the original bookcases and his elaborate instructions that placement of the books "... be strictly reviewed and, where found requiring it, more nicely adjusted".

The most important items in the Library are the six original bound manuscripts of Pepys's diary but there are other remarkable holdings, including:[1] A selection of the most interesting volumes are on display.