The Department is essentially comprised of two main collection areas: prints and drawings from the 15th to 20th century, and the ‘Historical Sheets’, a collection of graphic works on paper arranged according to theme and relating to various periods in German history and culture.

Core collection areas include sheets from the late Middle Ages into the early modern period (Renaissance and Baroque), as well as from the 19th century.

The collection is distinguished by its many specialist holdings, for example of posters, portraits, topographical views and historical playing cards.