This week we welcome Kirsty to the Secret Library blog. Here she highlights a recent event at Leeds City Library that showcased some of our lesser seen items.

From 25 July – 30 August 2026 Leeds was transformed into a giant board game to celebrate a landmark moment in its history. People were encouraged to celebrate 400 years of Leeds ‘one question at a time’ as the city centre became a live interactive version of Trivial Pursuit. At Leeds Central Library we did a deep dive into our collections to present a selection of treasures which best represented the question categories and celebrated them at our ‘Treasures Showcase’ events.

Here is a selection of the items on show for the Pink and Brown (Entertainment and Art & Literature) ‘wedges of cheese’ ranging from national costumes and pastimes, to ghostbusting, fairy tales, and the works of William Shakespeare and William Blake.

The brief was to select a range of books which best represent the themes of art, literature or entertainment, from our special collections (which, because of their age and fragility are kept in our strong room) and allow ticketholders to carefully view and handle these rare and beautiful items with library staff on hand to facilitate.

The majority of volumes chosen, were from the Henry Collection which were collected by Dr Sidney A. Henry and donated to Leeds Museums in 1956 in memory of his mother Ernestine Henry. Henry had a professional interest in Chimney Sweeps, which was his motivation for including them in his collection, however they are equally of interest to fans of art, literature and entertainment.

You will see from the photographs provided that the books are displayed on special cushions, these provide support to the spines and minimise the risk of damage, pages are kept open using weighted ‘snakes’.

Songs of Innocence and Experience, William Blake (1923)

Originally published in 1794 this 1923 edition of some of Blake’s most renowned works, (including ‘The Tyger’, ‘The Lamb’ and ‘London’) brings together both volumes of illustrated poems in an elegant volume which is coloured, gilded, numbered and signed. It was particularly nice to find the handwritten notes of the cataloguer tucked into the front pages of the book.

The Life of an Actor, Pierce Egan (1825)

An illustrated novel by the British journalist and popular culture writer dedicated to the actor Edmund Kean featuring poetical descriptions by T. Greenwood alongside coloured etchings by Theodore Lane. It is said to vividly capture the vibrant, gritty reality of the 19th-century London theatrical scene.

Suburbia – Caricatured, Henry Mayo Bateman (1922)

Taking inspiration from the area around Clapham where he lived, Bateman’s exquisite line drawings perfectly capture 1920s society. Bateman is also famed for his WWII ‘Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases’ public information poster.

The Water Babies, Charles Kingsley (1920)

One of over thirty different editions of this popular children’s story that we hold in our collection; it has exceptional illustrations by the artist A E Jackson. The vibrant colour plates feature dreamy Edwardian aesthetics, and charming depictions of Tom the chimney sweep’s underwater adventures. This edition has an illustrated slip case which has helped preserve its condition.

Punch magazine, January – June 1897

A bound volume of the famous British weekly magazine of wit, humour, and satire. Using clever cartoons, caricatures, and jokes it recorded and mocked late-Victorian society, politics, and daily life. There are many similarities to be found with the politics and attitudes of today’s press, especially in regard to those perennial topics such as elections and taxes.

Comedy of The Tempest, William Shakespeare (1908)

One of many editions of Shakespeare plays in the Leeds Libraries collection. This 1908 Hodder & Stoughton copy is illustrated by Edmund Dulac – the Vintage prints (chromolithograph): are ‘tipped in’ gold plate, on heavy cream paper, with captioned tissue guard pages. It is representative of the ‘Golden Age of Book Illustration’ a period of unprecedented excellence in book and magazine design, stretching roughly from the 1880s to the 1930s. These lavishly produced books made perfect gifts.

Andersen’s Fairy Tales, Hans Christian Andersen (1924)

One of the most exquisite books from the ‘Golden Age of Illustration’. This volume gathers 16 classic stories by Hans Christian Andersen, including ‘The Tinder Box’, ‘The Real Princess’ and ‘The Snow Queen’. This edition is limited to five hundred copies, (this is no. 48) and signed by the Danish artist Kay Nielsen. The illustrations are works of art in their own right and need to be seen in person to truly appreciate the quality.

Popular British Pastimes, Francis Philip Stephanoff. (1816)

Everything from football to exorcisms, a selection of picturesque representations of the customs & amusements of Great Britain, in ancient and modern times accompanied with historical descriptions. Some of the pastimes seem barbaric by modern standards whereas others are still practised today. HC 394 STE Barcode: 34151397

National Costumes – England, Volume 1, William Henry Pyne (1827)

Part of the ‘World in Miniature’ series England, Scotland, and Ireland: containing a description of the character, manners, customs, dress, diversions, and other peculiarities of the inhabitants of Great Britain. This is part of the Henry Collection owing to the Chimney Sweep illustration but includes such niche occupations as ‘the cat’s-meat woman’ and the ‘Doctor of music’.

The English Humourists in Art (Illustrated Catalogue Exhibition 1889), Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colour (Great Britain) (1889)

This is a collection of topical cartoons of the time featuring politics, conflict and class difference, a particular favourite is ‘Old Maids at a Cat’s Funeral’ it also includes a selection of adverts – The ‘Pears Soap’ is a good example. HC 708 ROY Barcode:34182632

The Pleasure Haunts of London, during four centuries, Chancellor Edwin Beresford (1925)

An exploration of London’s social life and leisure activities from the Tudor era through to the early 20th century. From Bear pits to Wax Works via Opera and Pleasure Gardens this work captures the spirit of a city in constant pursuit of amusement. HC 942.1 CHA Barcode 34178686

To view any of the items highlighted here please contact us to arrange an appointment.

Find out more about our library treasures and collections and look out for upcoming events here.