Introduction

Introduction  

The Early Treasures of the Graham Library Exhibit highlights interesting items in our collection that were printed in Western Europe spanning the 15th to the 18th centuries. Since 1828 when Bishop John Strachan negotiated a donation to purchase books for the future divinity library of King’s College, later University of Toronto, our rare and special collections have been developed over time through the generosity of donors, bequests, acquisitions, and serendipity.   

The John W. Graham Library’s rare books and special collections holds around 5000 volumes, and its focus has been primarily works from the Western European printing tradition, with the recognition that other printing technology and knowledge systems arose simultaneously across the globe. This exhibit will highlight some of our earliest printed sacred, literary, and scientific works to provide insight into the history of printing in Western Europe.