The Rosenbach

The Rosenbach is a museum and research library in two historic townhouses on Delancey Street, in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse neighborhood. Its intimate rooms hold rare books, manuscripts, art and furnishings collected by brothers Philip and A. S. W. Rosenbach. Look for James Joyce’s manuscript of Ulysses and Benjamin Franklin’s first Poor Richard’s Almanack, alongside works by Bram Stoker, Lewis Carroll and other writers. A guided tour adds context about the brothers and their collection; weekend visitors can also explore independently with a pamphlet or audio guide.

A collection formed by two brothers

Philip Rosenbach and his younger brother, Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach, were dealers in rare books and manuscripts during the first half of the 20th century. The museum grew from the material they collected, and the house also gives a sense of the brothers’ lives and interests. Their collections have expanded over time, bringing together literary, historical and artistic objects.

The museum is housed in two townhouses dating to the 1860s, furnished in a Victorian style. The rooms place the books and manuscripts in the setting of a historic home rather than a large gallery, giving the visit a close-up scale.

Books, manuscripts and works of art

Among the collection’s notable items are the manuscript of James Joyce’s Ulysses and the only surviving copy of Benjamin Franklin’s first Poor Richard’s Almanack. The holdings also include works associated with Bram Stoker, Lewis Carroll, Phillis Wheatley, Miguel de Cervantes and Charles Dickens. Visitors may encounter first editions and manuscripts alongside furniture and fine and decorative art.

The collection is extensive, so a tour can help connect individual objects to the Rosenbach brothers and the history behind their acquisitions. The museum also has exhibitions and programs drawn from its holdings. If a particular work matters to your visit, consult the museum’s collection information before you go; not every object is covered by the self-guided materials.