Purchase a copy of the book | view the virtual exhibition
The exhibition Real Gold: Treasures of Auckland City Libraries ended a very successful four-month run at Central City Library on 29 February 2008. Items for this free exhibition were selected from thousands of rare, valuable and wonderful 'treasures' cared for by the Special Collections unit at Auckland City Libraries.
While the exhibition has ended, the individual items it featured continue to be available for members of the public to view - as are the majority of items held by Special Collections. To view an item, just ask at Special Collections reception on the second floor at Central City Library.
The virtual exhibition created for the exhibition also continues to be available online.
Among the treasures featured are a First Folio of Shakespeare, a six-page catechism which is the first work printed in New Zealand, medieval illuminated manuscripts, maps and sketches of early Auckland, avant-garde private press productions, Māori language manuscripts, Isaac Newton's Optiks, letters from Florence Nightingale to Sir George Grey, the records of Limbs Dance Company and Mercury Theatre.
At the heart of the exhibition are many hundreds of items donated by Sir George Grey in 1887, shortly after the library was founded.
Limited copies of the beautifully illustrated book published alongside the exhibition are available. Also titled Real Gold: Treasures of Auckland City Libraries, (by Iain Sharp with photographs by Haruhiko Sameshima), they may be purchased from Special Collections at Central City Library or the online shop for $49.99.
Purchase the book today
Order your own copy of Real Gold: Treasures of Auckland City Libraries, by Iain Sharp with photographs by Haruhiko Sameshima, through our online library shop for only $49.99. Go to the online order form now.
View a selection of the exhibition online in our virtual exhibition. | 
