Historical information

Book prize awarded to J J Chalmers for excellence in English, Geography and History. Awarded during R O McCoy's principalship 1864 - 1874. J Chalmers was Dux of College in 1870 but this prize was awarded in 1871 suggesting that he completed an extra year while awaiting university entrance.

Significance

Social significance being one example of the prizes provided by R O McCoy as his own gift. From 1969 these prizes were obtained through special order in London and were uniformly bound in full calf with the College seal and motto embossed on the cover. (see Mein p.10)

Physical description

Full calf binding with raised bands and gold embossed printing on spine; decorative markings on spine, gold borders printed around front and back covers and decorative markings on edges of cover; marbled -edged pages; college crest embossed in gold on front cover.

Inscriptions & markings

Book plate on verso of front cover: Ballarat College crest / 2nd PRIZE / English Geography & History / AWARDED TO / J J Chalmers / CHRISTMAS 1871 / R O McCOY, M A PRINCIPAL