Founded in 2016, the Queen鈥檚 University Library鈥檚 Schulich-Woolf Rare Book Collection is quickly gaining a reputation as one of Canada鈥檚 best collections of early modern print.
Co-founder, philanthropist and entrepreneur Seymour Schulich, recently added to that reputation through a gift of three books, including one printed in 1477 that is now the second-oldest in the collection.
That book, Historia Rerum Ubique Gestarum by Pope Pius II, is believed to be the only specimen of that edition in Canada. Also gifted are Ludovico di Varthema鈥檚 Die Ritterliche Unnd Lobwirdige Reiss (1556), and Thomas Moulton鈥檚 The Myrrour or Glasse of Helth (1561).
鈥淭hrough these gifts, Mr. Schulich strengthens the library鈥檚 goals to promote and preserve distinct collections of information resources that enable high impact research and scholarship,鈥 says Michael Vandenburg, Interim Vice-Provost and University Librarian. 鈥淭he three new texts will be displayed prominently in the library where they will enhance the student learning experience and stimulate faculty teaching and research. Scholars from around the world will be drawn to Queen鈥檚 by the excellence of its research collections.鈥
Fellow collection co-founder, Principal Emeritus Daniel Woolf, explains that the new arrivals are good examples of Renaissance-era printing, covering different genres: history, medicine, and travel. Die Ritterliche Unnd Lobwirdige Reiss and The Myrrour or Glasse of Helth illustrate small and medium format printing in 鈥榖lack letter鈥 text, often referred to as Gothic, he says. Historia Rerum Ubique Gestarum is of particular interest as it was printed during the first 50 years of moveable type and is an 鈥榠ncunabulum,鈥 the term for the very, very rare books published between 1450 and 1500.
鈥淭he book exemplifies the superior letter casting and printing of Italian printing houses of the day,鈥 Dr. Woolf says of Historia. 鈥淭he book is important for its content, too, as one of the earliest specimens of Italian humanist historical writing which differed considerably from the late medieval chronicles it supplanted.鈥
Mr. Schulich and Dr. Woolf partnered to donate their personal collections of rare books to Queen鈥檚. In recognition of their generosity and vision, the university established the Schulich-Woolf Rare Book Collection, which residesat the W. D. Jordan Rare Books and Special Collections in Douglas Library, and combines more than 400 volumes. Mr. Schulich also made an additional gift of approximately $2 million to help build and preserve the collection and make it accessible to students and researchers, both at Queen鈥檚 and beyond.
鈥淢r. Schulich has been a very generous benefactor of the library, the Schulich Foundation having either purchased books such as this directly or provided the funds to acquire them, as for instance with last year鈥檚 purchase of the Nuremberg Chronicle and the earlier acquisition of a Caxton publication, both also incunabula,鈥 Dr. Woolf says. 鈥淲ith the addition of Mr. Schulich鈥檚 own personal collection of books, plus many of my own, the library is building up one of the best collections of early modern print, especially printed editions of Renaissance-era history and travel literature, in the country. I鈥檓 personally thrilled that with his and the foundation鈥檚 help, the collection continues to grow.鈥
An industry leader whose career has spanned the financial services and mining sectors, Mr. Schulich has distinguished himself as a philanthropist over the last two decades, donating more than $350 million to universities and hospitals throughout Canada, the U.S., and Israel.
In 2011, he launched the Schulich Leader Scholarships, now a $200-million program that provides full scholarships to promising high school graduates with a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Since the program鈥檚 inception, Queen鈥檚 has been a top-five destination for Schulich Leaders.
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This story originally appeared in the Queen鈥檚 Gazette.
