The Candlekeep Collection contains the most complete list to date of all books, incunabula, codices, and compendiums in the Realms. All of these have either been mentioned or quoted in Forgotten Realms game products or novels. They serve to make the Realms a real place, with things existing out of the moment of your games. Thus, why not put them all (at least those we know of) on Candlekeep’s shelves?

The books in this list are rare; they’re usually very carefully kept -- for a variety of reasons. Some hide secret knowledge, while others simply educate their readers of far off places and peoples. Use them in your games as adventure hooks; stolen books are something new to go recover instead of kidnapped children. Use them as treasures: Even if your PCs don’t appreciate a rare copy of De Naturis Rerum, you can easily introduce them to someone willing to take it off their hands for cash. The secrets within the books are adventure hooks enough (as well as clues to guide a game), so there’s no end to the uses of the collection.

For many years, Candlekeep gained its glamour and reputation for being the greatest repository of knowledge on Faerûn. While others -- from Heralds’ Holdfast to Silverymoon’s Vault of the Sages -- make equal claims, Candlekeep remains the colloquial favorite amid tavern talk and scholars alike. At least in terms of collection, not the access to the same.

For many of the books listed here, it’s assumed that between three and eight copies exist about the Realms, of which Candlekeep keeps one (or more) on hand. Notes below identify whether Candlekeep holds the original manuscript or a hand-scribed copy. Due to the very limited nature of books in the Realms (due to their predominant creation by hand, regardless of new printing technologies in Waterdeep and elsewhere), originals likely remain in their creators' hands.

A number of books (the Volo manuscripts, for example) are listed here simply because their widespread notoriety suggests that Candlekeep would have a copy (or would note the book’s existence, at least). Thus, even while the sole copies might reside elsewhere without benefit of viewing at the Keep, the monks can at least corroborate a book’s existence or lack thereof.