John Smith Gallery

Thomas James (1573?-1629). Ecloga Oxonio-Cantabrigiensis, London, 1600. [S.2.7]

In compiling his huge collection of books Smith appears to have referred to a range of catalogues in order to obtain information about books and titles. As the first ever printed catalogue of the manuscripts held in the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge this publication is of particular importance as a manifestation of the profound developments in scholarship that were taking place during Smith’s lifetime. With the advent of published catalogues such as this scholars could undertake systematic analysis of an author, a particular treatise, or a subject aided by an awareness of available sources in other libraries.