Early English Printing
Early English Printing
Printing in England began in 1476, when William Caxton established a press near Westminster Abbey. London remained the center of English printing and, as the publishing industry became more organized, the Stationers’ Company of the City of London became the country’s major publisher. In 1557, Queen Mary granted a royal charter for the incorporation of the Stationers’ Company, giving them a monopoly on printing in England that lasted until the 1690s.
Early English printed works were generally in the vernacular. Religious works dominated, accounting for nearly half of all printing. Other popular printed works included textbooks, legal works, medical works, and translations of the classics. The 16th and 17th centuries were also a major period in the development of English drama. On display are a selection of religious, literary, and dramatic works.
The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity
Hooker, Richard, 1553 or 1554-1600. Of the lavves of ecclesiasticall politie: eyght bookes. Printed at London: By Iohn Windet, 1593.
The first major work of philosophy, theology, and political thought in English, from the inventor of Anglicanism.
Presented to the Graham Library by W. Speed Hill and David Neelands in 2003.
King James Bible
The Holy Bible: conteyning the Old Testament, and the New: newly translated out of the originall tongues: & with the former translations diligently compared and reuised, by His Maiesties speciall cōmandement: appointed to be read in churches. Imprinted at London: by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most excellent Maiestie, 1611.
A first edition of the King James Version of the Bible. There were some errors in this printing, including the use of “He” rather than “She” in Ruth 3:15.
Gift of Dr. W. L. May, Peggy (May) Ruddick, and Mary (May) Harris, 4T4, in memory of Capt. David A. May, RCA. Restoration funded by the Friends of the Library.
Book of Common Prayer
Church of England. The booke of common prayer, with the Psalter or Psalmes of Dauid, of that translation which is appointed to be vsed in churches. Imprinted at London: Robert Barker, 1607.
This edition of the Book of Common Prayer came out of the Hampton Court Conference in 1604.
The Life of Tymon of Athens
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. The Life of Tymon of Athens. London: Printed by Isaac Haggard and Ed. Blount, 1623.
Disbound from Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies, 1623.
Gift to the library from Guy and Sandra Upjohn in 2014.
Aesop’s Fables
L'Estrange, Roger, Sir, 1616-1704. Fables of Aesop and other eminent mythologists. London: Printed for R. Sare, T. Sawbridge, B. Took, M. Gillyflower, A. & J. Churchil, and J. Hindmarsh, 1692.
The first of many editions of this major collection of fables.
Gift of Prof. D.S.C. Chambers in 1986.