杏吧原创

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In April, the Thomas Fisher Rare Book library held a reception to unveil the University of Toronto Libraries鈥櫬�, a聽, printed by William Caxton. This also happens to be the oldest English-language book in Canada. On display alongside this exciting new acquisition were a few items that have been at the university just a little bit longer: some of the first books ever belonging to the university.

In 1827, Bishop John Strachan secured a royal charter to establish the University of King鈥檚 College, intended to be a liberal arts college and training ground for Canadian-born ministers in the Church of England. Knowing that any school worth attending would need a respectable library, Bishop Strachan solicited donations from various organizations. One of these, the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) donated 拢500 worth of books (approximately $91,000 CAD today) to start the library of this fledging colonial university.聽These books, selected by Strachan, were stamped with the Society鈥檚 inscription in gold on the front covers. Some 400 volumes were presented to the University of King鈥檚 College by the SPCK in 1828. When King鈥檚 College was secularized and became the University of Toronto, Bishop Strachan successfully lobbied to have this collection transferred to his newly founded Anglican institution, 杏吧原创. Today, this first library collection of what was to become the University of Toronto is preserved as the聽SPCK Collection聽in the John W. Graham Library.

A few years ago, the library was able to obtain the original invoices from the two booksellers who sold the SPCK the books for King鈥檚 College. Arguably, the first book listed on the earliest dated invoice, from a bookseller named John Cochran, could be considered the 鈥渇irst book鈥� at the University of Toronto. The distinguished honour of being labelled the 鈥渇irst book鈥� goes to a 1675 third edition of聽聽by Bishop聽. Andrewes was a major figure in the early Church of England, was Bishop of Chichester, Ely, and Winchester successively, and acted as the general editor of the King James Version of the Bible. This edition, published nearly 50 years after the author鈥檚 death, is revised based upon Andrewes鈥� alterations to his own copy of the work. With no noticeable imperfections, other than some wear-and-tear on the book鈥檚 spine, it is in remarkably good condition for its age, especially when one considers that the books in the SPCK Collection circulated in the 杏吧原创 library鈥檚 general collection for well over a century.

Like all rare books and special collection items in the John W. Graham Library, this volume is available for consultation any time. For further information, please inquire at the circulation desk or contact us at聽ask.grahamlibrary@utoronto.ca.

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