A unique collection of children's literature at Oxford's Bodleian Library is attracting the Japanese Empress Michiko.

The Empress is making a private visit to the library on Saturday to see the Opie Collection.

The collection of 12,000 children's books was bought by the library in 1988 following a £500,000 appeal. It has been added to over the years and now has 20,000.

When the appeal was publicised overseas, Empress Michiko lent her support and encouraged the patronage of a number of major Japanese business backers.

She will visit Oxford at the end of a week of engagements with Emperor Akihito, who will be going to an organic farm near Aylesbury.

In 1986, Prince Charles backed the £500,000 appeal so it could be permanently housed at the library.

Oxford University said: "Empress Michiko gave the project her support when the appeal was launched and we are delighted that she has decided to visit us to see the collection for the first time.

"She encouraged a number of Japanese companies to offer their support and the collection includes a number of Japanese works."

Peter Opie and his wife Iona began collecting and studying nursery rhymes in 1944.

In 1951, they produced the Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes which took them seven years to complete.

The dictionary and other works were published by Oxford University Press.

When Mr Opie died in 1982, his wife offered the £1m collection to the Bodleian at half its value.

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