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.