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Rare Books

Rare Book Division
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-258-3184
Curator of Rare Books
609-258-9942

Princeton has one of the leading collections of printed books in the fields of the early history and culture of Virginia, including many important rare books. The following article gives details and covers the important McCormick collection of Virginiana numbering 73 items--books and pamphlets--being especially strong in material covering the first century of the colony's existence. See: Louis B. Wright, "Materials for the Study of the Civilization of Virginia" in the Princeton University Library Chronicle X, 1 (November, 1948) pp.3-15[full text] . For further particulars consult: Howard C. Rice, Jr. Virginia Impartially Examined and Left to Publick View. An Exhibition of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and MapsRelating to the History of Virginia 1584-1800 (Princeton, 1958) [(ExB) 0639.739 no. 24] [full text] . The above catalogue of an exhibition held at Princeton lists and describes some 170 items displayed at that time and pertaining to the history of Virginia. All items displayed are from the Princeton holdings. Another briefer account of the exhibition can be found in: "Virginia impartially examined and left to publick view. . ." in the Princeton University Library Chronicle XIX, 1 (Autumn, 1957) pp. 51-54 [full text].