Close
Applications for the 2025 Anthony Davis Book Collecting Prize are now open!
By Sarah S Pipkin, on 31 March 2025
Image credit: Howard Kordansky, 2024 Book Prize winner
The Anthony Davis Book Collecting Prize celebrates and encourages student book collectors who are passionate about any type of book, printed, or manuscript material. It is open to any student studying at a London-based university who has a collection of printed and/or manuscript material focused on a cohesive theme.
The winner will receive £600 as well as an allowance of £300 to purchase an item for UCL Special Collections. The prize will also include the opportunity to give a talk on your collection as part of the UCL Special Collections events programme.
Your collection should be based around a theme which has been deliberately assembled and that you intend to continue growing. Past shortlisted and finalist collection themes include post WWI Jewish experiences, transgender authors, and Arabic voices in science fiction and graphic novels.
Your collection does not need to include items that are valuable, old, or historically important. Instead, your collection can include anything from comic books to postcards, 19th century novels to modern YA fiction. As long as it has a dedicated theme, you are welcome to apply!
To apply, you must:
- Be a current undergraduate or postgraduate studying for a degree at a London-based university. Both part-time and full-time students are encouraged to apply.
- Have a cohesive collection of at least 8 items.
- Fill out our online application form by April 25th.
- Shortlisted applicants will be asked to present their collection to the prize judges on May 19th.
Below are several resources that can help you plan your application. However, please feel free to contact library.spec.coll.rarebooks@ucl.ac.uk with any specific questions you might have about the prize.
Collection of Emma Treleaven, 2023 Book Collecting Prize winner
