By Rose Caisley '26
One of Special Collections’ oldest books, Caesar’s Commentaries, which details Caesar’s eight-year campaign in Gaul, turned 545 years old this year.
The copy is a reprinting from 1480 of the book. Its original owner, David Ives Bushnell Jr., an anthropologist from St. Louis, Missouri, passed away in 1941 and donated the book to William & Mary’s Special Collections in his will.
Caesar’s Commentaries serve as the Roman ruler’s personal account of the Gallic Wars, fought in modern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The campaign lasted from 58 to 50 BCE and led to Caesar’s rise to power as dictator of Rome. While his power would only grow in the years that followed, Caesar’s reign would end on March 15th, 44 BCE, known as the Ides of March, when a group of Roman Senators assassinated him.
When it comes to preserving the book, Special Collections Assistant David Wall said, “Honestly, older books are easier to preserve than newer books.” He explained that, “There was a transition in the early-to-mid 19th century from linen-based paper to wood pulp. This made paper significantly more brittle but also cheaper. The big issue is the damage that was done in the past by less-than-ideal handling.” Since the book was made before the shift to wood pulp paper, the book is still in relatively good condition. Wall stressed the importance of maintaining a cool dry climate in Special Collections stacks to make sure all of their rare books remain in the best condition possible.
Although the Ides of March is not a holiday traditionally celebrated by many, this 545 year-old book continues to impact and inspire researchers and students today. Special Collections student assistant Harrison Klingman ‘26 said, "Caesar’s Commentaries inspired me to begin learning Latin after I noticed many of my high school friends translating its passages for a homework assignment.”
Find Caesar's Commentaries in the library catalog.