Significant collection of early monographs, pamphlets, bound letters etc pertaining to Ireland by foreign authors and/or by Irishmen printed abroad. Dating mainly from before 1701, the Simms collection contains many rare and important items that have been gathered together by a local book collector of some repute reflecting a particular interest in Irish affairs. Prominent among the subjects covered in the collection are items relating to the tumultuous events of 17th century Britain and their particular impact on Ireland. The Flight of the Earls, Plantation, the English Civil War (1642-45), the so-called 'Glorious Revolution' of 1689 and the Seige of Derry (1690) are all well represented. Other subjects befitting the age to which the collection as a whole relates extends to matters of religious debate and history, with items commentlng on the lives of the Irish Saints, theology and philosophy etc to be found throughout. The collection also contains a number of examples of incunabula with the earliest number dating from c. 1490 and being an edition of Richard Fitzralph's (c. 1295-1360, Archbishop of Armagh) Defensorium Curatorum.
17th century Britain and Ireland. English Civil War.
Approx. 208 volumes - monographs, pamphlets, bound letters etc.
Items contained in the Simms Collection can be found catalogued on the QUB on-line catalogue (QCAT) as part of the Early Printed Book Collection (prefix y/). The catalogue is available at: www.qub.ac.uk/lib