Wound man

This image of the Wound man is taken from the Library's copy of Feldtbuch der Wundartzney, by Hans von Gersdorff. Our copy was published in Strassbourg in 1540 although the first edition was published in 1517. Feldtbuch der Wundartzney is a medical text written for military surgeons. Along with illustrations of amputations, trepanning, cauterizing and palmistry we find the image of the Wound man which illustrates the various wounds suffered in battle or in accidents. The original woodcut was possibly drawn by Johannes de Ketham who published the first printed medical text Fasciculus Medicinae in 1491.
Hannibal Lecter, in the novel Red Dragon, uses the illlustration of the Wound man as a model for the arrangement of the body of his sixth victim.
From the call number, MRB/ Q617.99/ G (16th Century), you can see that this item is from David Scott Mitchell's original bequest and doesn't quite fit that obsession with Australian History.

An anastatic diversion

An authentic anastatic facsimile of the original handwritten 1776 Declaration of Independence has been rescued from obscurity... an anastatic facsimile?
It's not quite Web2 but the EX-LIBRIS-L listserv often carries interesting stories like this one!

Project update 25 - Conclusion

This week I am finalising the report for this project...but if you don't mind I won't be closing the door on the rare books collection. I'll keep blogging. Please keep checking for updates although they may not come as frequently!


I'll post the report once it is available for circulation.

Project update 24 - Australian rare books

This project has been looking at issues and ideas around improving access to our rare printed collections from Australia as well as overseas.

The State Library holds the most important collection of Australian rare books in the country including a number of Australian firsts; the first book printed in Australia, The New South Wales general standing orders, 1802, several complete runs of the first newspaper in Australia, The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, the first illustrated book, Birds of New South Wales, with their natural history by John William Lewin, 1813.

The launch this week of the First Fleet collection online has included material from the earliest published accounts as well as manuscripts of journals and correspondence including a rare edition of an account by an Officer which is held in the Dixson collection (DL 78/68). Only two copies are known to exist.

The Sirius & Supply in Jackson's Bay from An authentic and interesting narrative of the late expedition to Botany Bay : as performed by Commodore Phillips and the fleet of seven transport ships … written by an officer…1789.

Spanish diversion

Created on the verso of a vellum leaf from a medieval choirbook, this scene of courtly life was produced by the 'Spanish Forger' around 1890 - 1910. The artist's real name is unknown. The term 'Spanish Forger' was applied to the artist as the first forgery identified had been earlier attributed to a painter active in Spain. Over 200 items have been identified as the work of the 'Spanish Forger'. The daring décolletage of the ladies and the pouty lips are a little too obvious for a medieval damsel and the folds in the gowns don't quite flow! But analysis of the inks used in many of the works has also identified these works as modern forgeries. The emerald green ink contains a copper arsenite pigment not available until after 1814.
The library's example from the 'Spanish Forger' ( RB/MSS 97 ) was purchased in 1991.