The library of the retired cavalry captain, private scholar and order historian Jacob Hermens (1831-1880) came to the ULB Düsseldorf in 1873/74.

The main focus and special value of the collection are 275 works on the history of the ecclesiastical orders, the orders of knighthood, the orders and decorations. The remaining part of the collection corresponds to the book possession of an educated collector in the first half of the 19th century and contains works on history as well as on German and European literature.

After war losses, the collection includes 462 works with about 1,050 volumes.