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.

Remnant Trust diversion

'The Remnant Trust is a public educational foundation that shares an actively growing collection of original and 1st edition works dealing with the topics of liberty and dignity with some pieces dating as early as 1250. The Trust makes this collection available to colleges, universities, and other organizations for use by students, faculty, scholars and the general public. Those exposed are encouraged to touch, feel and read the originals.'
Is this an idea for some of our duplicate collections? Touch and turn the pages of Australian icons?
For more information you can refer to the Remnant Trust website.You can also view this Youtube example of a Remnant Trust exhibition at the University of Mississippi

ISTC diversion

I've been looking through a list of material on book production displayed in 1965. The list, arranged by H.G. Kaplan, does not include any location numbers and some of the items are proving difficult to trace.
Many of the incunabula do not have online records on our catalogue but, curiously, I can find them on the Incunabula Short Title Catalogue on the British Library website.
'The ISTC records nearly every item printed from movable type before 1501, but not material printed entirely from woodblocks or engraved plates. 29,777 editions are listed as at January 8th 2008, including some 16th-century items previously assigned incorrectly to the 15th century.'
There are around 198 titles on the ISTC from the State Library although locations are not included.
This image is from Glossa Magistralis Psalterii by Petrus Lombardus ( 1095 - 1160) , printed in 1478 by Frisner and Sensenschmidt in Nuremberg. The title is listed in the scanned card catalogue but has an incorrect location number.
'Peter Lombard', a scholastic theologian of the twelfth century, was appointed Bishop of Paris in 1159. The caption for the display suggests state that:
'The book here displayed is rare in any condition; the freshness of the illuminations, the paper, and the binding make it a well-nigh unique example of a 15th century book, fresh from the binder.'

Project update 23 - A Capital visit

This week I visited the National Library in Canberra to discuss the management of their printed book collections. I spoke with staff who have worked with the collections for a number of years. The rare books collection at the National Library was formally established in 1962 although elements of the collections were acquired as early as 1934 with the Alexander Dalrymple Collection. A few observations from many...

• They have just as many prefixes as we do!
  
• They encourage clients to use digital cameras.
  
• They have an automated request and circulation system for material issued in the reading rooms and therefore have statistics on collection use.
• The bar code for an item is printed on the call slip and can be scanned directly to circulate the item. The item itself does not necessarily need to have the bar code attached to the item.
• The National Library has a new Digital collections feature on their website with a section highlighting digitised books & serials.
  

Book theft diversion

You may have read about the map thief, James Lyman Brubaker. A press release has been issued by the Department of Justice in Montana. Don't you just love the phrase " interstate transportation of stolen property" - it makes you nostalgic for those old episodes of FBI!