Adopt-a-Rare-Book Program update

November 2018

Currently our Rare Book Collection consists of over 2,200 books and over 590 bound periodical

volumes. These have been generously donated over the decades. Some were given to us needing

restoration, and others were damaged while housed off-site during the Second World War. They

have been carefully preserved in their “as is” condition but very little restoration work was able to

be done until now as conservation work is beyond the means of regular library funds.

The intention is not to restore a rare book to its original, ‘as new’ condition. That is impossible,

while still maintaining the integrity and history of the book.

Instead the aim is to strengthen the structure of the book, stabilize any damage, repair what can

be repaired, replicating as well as possible the original materials used, the production methods,

etc., while still revealing the age and history of the book.

Hopefully this will allow the book to survive for another century or two before it needs

restoration again.

As a result of the launch of our Adopt-a-Rare-Book Program at the November 2017 Library

Sundowner, we were delighted that nine out of the ten initial titles selected for restoration were

adopted. They have since been restored by Anthony Zammit (Anthony Zammit Book

Restoration), and he has done a wonderful job.

We would like to thank Anthony very much for the high quality of his work, and for agreeing to

be our guest speaker at the 2019 Library Sundowner, scheduled for April 2019. More details

will be forthcoming closer to the date. We also plan to hold a little get-together half an hour

before the function so that the donors can meet Anthony. He would like to discuss with them the

work involved in restoring these rare books.

We are very grateful to the donors who provided the funds to make the restoration work possible,

and would like to acknowledge them here by displaying ‘before’ and ‘after’ images of the books

they helped to restore. The donors’ names are recorded above the individual works. A special

bookplate will also be created and will be inserted into the restored books, acknowledging their

generosity.

We would also like to thank Anthony himself for very generously restoring one title without

charge. That book was

Littleton, Adam, 1627-1694. Linguae Latinae liber dictionarius quadripartitus. A Latine

dictionary, in four parts. 1684. Donated by Mr Robin Ashwin. (Item 6 on the list).

The following titles were restored during 2018

1. Constitutions of the several independent states of America, the Declaration of Independence

and the Articles of Confederation between the said states – to which are now added the

Declaration of Rights, the Non-Importation Agreement and the Petition of Congress to the

King delivered by Mr Penn/ The whole arranged, with a preface and dedication by The Reverend

William Jackson.

London, Printed for J. Stockdale, 1783. Bequest of W. Anstey Wynes.

* Adopted by the Honourable Bruce Debelle AO QC *

2. Dennis, C. J. (Clarence James). Backblock ballads and other verses.

Sydney or Melbourne: E. W. Cole, 18-?

Donated by Mr R. B. Lewis.

Example of an early Australian paperback. Possibly a first edition.

* Adopted by Dr Jane Walkley *

3. Hamilton, W., Sir. Observations on Mount Vesuvius, Mount Etna and other volcanos: in a

series of letters addressed to The Royal Society.

London: Printed for T. Cadell, 1774.

Donated by C. A. S. Hawker.

* Adopted by Mr James Price *

4. Hunter, John, 1728-1793. A treatise on the blood, inflammation and gun-shot wounds.

London: Printed for John Richardson, 1794.

Donated by Sir Henry Newland.

* Adopted by Mrs Leonie Matheson *

5. Hunter, John, 1737-1821. An historical journal of the transactions at Port Jackson and

Norfolk Island with the discoveries which have been made in New South Wales and in the

southern ocean since the publication of Phillip’s voyage …/ Compiled from the official

papers, including the journals of Governors Phillip and King, and of Lieut. Ball; and the

voyages from the first sailing of the Sirius in 1787 to the return of that ship’s company to

England in 1792.

London: Printed for John Stockdale, 1793.

(Donor unknown).

* Adopted by the Honourable Bruce Debelle AO QC *

6. Littleton, Adam, 1627-1694. Linguae Latinae liber dictionarius quadripartitus. A Latine

dictionary, in four parts. 1. An English-Latine. II. A Latine-Classical. III. A Latine-Proper. IV.

A Latine-Barbarous.

1684.

Donated by Mr Robin Ashwin.

* Restored by Mr Anthony Zammit. Gratis *

7. Pius episcopus servus servorum Dei, ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Cover title: Roman

breviary.

Printed sometime in the late 17th century.

Donated by the Fowler family. Note on title page: “With regards Wm Fowler 16/1/46”.

* Adopted by the Honourable Bruce Debelle AO QC *

8. Quick, John and Garran, Robert Randolph. The annotated Constitution of the Australian

Commonwealth.

Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1901.

(Donor unknown).

* Adopted by the Honourable Bruce Debelle AO QC *

9. Remarks upon a pamphlet intitul’d, [Observations upon the state of the nation, in January,

1712/13]. Cover title: Remarks upon My Lord N-ham’s state of the nation.

London: Printed for J. Morphew, 1713.

(Donor unknown).

Pamphlet; very fragile.

* Adopted by Mr Michael Shearer AM *

10. Seward, Anna. Memoirs of the life of Dr Darwin, chiefly during his residence at Lichfield,

with anecdotes of his friends and criticisms of his writings.

London: T. Bensley (Printer), 1804.

Donated by C. A. S. Hawker.

* Adopted by Mr Robert Cheesman AM *