CARTER, Edmund, of Chelsea. The History of the University of Cambridge From Its Original To the Year 1753;In which a particular Account is given of each College and Hall, their respective Foundations, Founders, Benefactors, Bishops, Learned Writers, Masters, Livings, Curiosities, &c. Together with accurate Lists of all the Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors, Proctors, Taxers, Professors, Orators, Members of Parliament, &c. &c. London Printed for the Author, and sold by the Booksellers at Cambridge, Mr. Fletcher in the Turl and Oxford, and Mr. Davis and Mr. Woodyer in Fleet-Street. 1753

8vo.; sober twentieth-century full light brown calf over sturdy boards, plain spine with 5 raised bands and relaid tan leather label, ruled and lettered in gilt, retained from the earlier binding, plain edges; pp. viii + 471 + [i]; with decorative head and tailpieces; a very good sound copy with light external rubbing, marking, faint scratching, and minor chipping to spine label; internally remarkably clean with only small signs of handling, a corner crease to final leaf and offset-browning, with one small marginal tear with small loss, to the same; scarce in commerce.

First edition, with pagination errors (267 numbered 276; 375 numbered 675) but complete with reconciled catchwords.

One of the earliest comprehensive histories of the University of Cambridge, drawing on historical records, charters, and other documents. It is a work of scholarly endeavour by the author, published at the expense of the author and his numerous (listed) subscribers. In its density it traces the university back to its founding in 1209, when a group of academics fled the “town-gown” stand-off in Oxford to find sanctuary in the market town of Cambridge, 80 miles to the North East. Substantial sections are accorded to each individual college and hall here, including founding dates and benefactors, details on church livings, historical anecdotes of curiosities and architectural highlights.  

The colleges are treated in order of their founding, namely Peter-house; Clare-Hall; Pembroke-Hall: Corpus Christi College; Trinity-Hall; Gonvile and Caius-College; King’s-College; Queen’s-College; Katherine-Hall; Jesus-College; Christ-College; St. John’s-College; Magdalen-College; Trinity-College; Emanuel-College; Sidney-Sussex College.