THOMASON TRACTS

Thomason, George, d. 1666, collector.
Thomason tracts. Ann Arbor, Mich., University Microfilms International, 1977-1980. 256 reels. Lower Level Film 4655

Online Access: Early English Books Online (EEBO)

History:

At the sign of the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's churchyard in London, George Thomason did a thriving business as a book- seller and publisher in the middle of the seventeenth century. This was an especially troubled era in English history. Contention between Charles I and the Parliament led to the Civil War (1642-1651), the eventual execution of the king, and the exile of his heir.

Scope:

Because of his occupation, Thomason was in an excellent position to acquire the publications of the times. He began systematically collecting pertinent political pamphlets, books, newspapers, and manuscripts in 1640. He continued without inter- ruption through the war, the Commonwealth, and into the Restoration period. His collection closed in December i661, although only a few items were acquired after the coronation of Charles II on April 23 of that year.

The collection consists of microfilm of the more than 23,926 tracts now held in the British Library. The material was filmed in nine units in tract number order. Each reel begins with a table of its contents.

BIBLIOGRAPHIES and GUIDES:

(NOTE: Records for individual items in this set have been added to the Library's online catalog. Records for items in the Thomason Tracts are also included in the ESTC database.)

The Thomason tracts, 1640-1661: an index to the micro- film edition of the Thomason collection of the British Library: with a cross index by Wing number. Ann Arbor, Mich., University Microfilms International, 1977-1980. 2 v. REF Z 2002 B871, also Film 4655 Guide
Volume 1: Index arranged by Thomason Tract number gives volume and page number of original material, its date, Wing number, and reel on which text can be found.
Volume 2: Same material arranged by Wing number.

British Museum. Department of Printed Books. Thomason Collection.
Catalogue of the pamphlets, books, newspapers, and manuscripts relating to the Civil War, the Commonwealth, and Restoration, collected by George Thomason, 1640-1661. Ann Arbor, Mich. University Microfilms International, 1977. 2 v. in 4 REF Z2002 E87 1977
A facsimile of the original edition, London, 1908, edited by G. K. Fortescue. The first three volumes list all books, pamphlets, and manuscripts chrono- logically by date of the recorded events. The fourth volume lists newspapers chronologically, con- tains an appendix listing additional tracts, and an index of titles, persons, places, organizations, etc. in one alphabet.

RELATED SETS:

Early English books, 1641-1700.

Return to Imprints Home Page
Updated, 1/6/00
Reference Services Division, Olin*Kroch*Uris Libraries
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Olin and Uris Libraries, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853
PSA: Public Services and Assessment
Information and reference: 607-255-4144, okuref@cornell.edu
Circulation: (Olin) 607-255-4245, (Uris) 607-255-3537, olincirc@cornell.edu