ETH Library’s Rare Books Collection
The Rare Books Collection of the ETH Library plays a leading role in Switzerland in the field of technical and natural sciences l iterature before 1900. Its holdings include a range of very valuable works, often first editions or important later editions. The collection documents the history and development of astronomy, mathematics, technology, architecture and natural sciences. It provides researchers as well as scientists with literature from past centuries that is relevant for the history of the science. An overview of the Rare Books can be found in the Knowledge Portal.
The e-rara.ch platform provides the complete digitized rare prints from ETH Library from the 15th to the 19th centuries.
Terms of use
The digital images in ETH Library’s Collection E-Pics Rare Books can be downloaded for free in web resolution (1024×768) and as high-resolution JPGs and TIFFs. The licensing type and the terms of use are indicated individually for every image. The images are divided into two types:
• Copyrights to a work have expired: The images are in the public domain and can be used without limitation. The images bear public domain mark. These images can be used freely for scientific, private, non-commercial and commercial purposes.
• ETH Library holds full usage rights: The images can be used freely for scientific, private, non-commercial and commercial purposes subject to the indication of the correct copyright notice and, in the event of any changes, transferred under the same conditions. The copyright notice is found in the image information. The images are licensed under Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0.
The inclusion of the persistent link DOI from the E-Pics Rare Books service, e.g. http://doi.org/10.7890/ethz-a-000461803, is desirable.
The images can also be ordered as high-quality prints. This service carries a charge.
For publications, the correct copyright notice is to be indicated for each image. The copyright notice is found in the image information. In case of publication a free sample copy is requested.
Legal Disclaimer
Anyone making subsequent use of the material presented on the platform shall be personally and wholly responsible for compliance with the copyright regulations. ETH Library shall not be liable in any way whatsoever in the event of the unlawful use of digital documents or for any damages arising from the use or lack of information available on the platform. Users absolve ETH Library as the operator of the platform E-Pics Rare Books from any liability or legal claims arising from the violation of copyright law or other intellectual property rights.