The item I will be examining in this ENGL 419 blog is Thomas Boreman’s A Description of Three Hundred Animals (PZ6 1795 D483) from the University of British Columbia’s Rare Books and Specials Collections. Boreman first published this book in 1730, but the edition UBC’s RBSC holds is from 1795. It is part of The Arkley Collection of Early & Historical Children’s Literature, a collection made up of early Canadian, British, and American books from the late 18th century until 1939. The collection is made up of both donated items and items the library has purchased, however, it is unclear whether this copy was donated or purchased.

A Description of Three Hundred Animals is particularly significant in this collection because Thomas Boreman is considered one of the first printers to publish works specifically for children.