The original collection of some 3,000 volumes was burned by the British in 1814. The following year, Jefferson sold his entire library of 6,487 volumes for $23,940 to Congress as the foundation for a new Library of Congress.
In 1851 a fire destroyed much of the Library of Congress, including two thirds of the collection from Jefferson. The remaining Jefferson books have been conserved and are under restoration.
Pictured here is a recreation of Jefferson’s Library, with more than 2,000 books on display.