- Joined
- Aug 20, 2008
- Location
- Indiana
Civil war treasures emerge from depths
Stephen Matchett - June 15, 2012 - 12:00AM
State Library of NSW rare books expert Maggie Patton with some of the American Civil War maps and illustrations. Picture: Sam Mooy Source: The Australian
THE State Library of NSW has found volumes of maps and plans of the American Civil War as it searches its seven levels of underground archives for rare material to add to its digital collection.
The three large volumes date from the 1890s and include immensely detailed maps of major battles plus comprehensive guides to four years of bloody campaigns.
They are part of the official history of the war published by the US government, a definitive source on what was then one of the world's most destructive wars. The struggle fascinated Australians at the time and was a precursor to CEW Bean's famous official World War I history of the Anzacs. "As far as we know we are the only library holding the volumes in Australia," said rare books expert Maggie Patton.
The discovery was made as the library prepares to spend $85 million from this week's state budget digitising records and rare books. The project is designed to increase awareness and access to its vast collection of hidden treasures.
Recommended Coverage
Treasures of the State Library of NSW
The sumptuously produced Civil War volumes are typical of the high-quality craftwork of 19th-century luxury publishing demonstrated throughout the library's important collection of rare, large-format books in science and exploration, natural history and travel.
State law required a copy of every book published in NSW to be deposited in the library from the 1890s. The library also retained a London agent to bid on important overseas collections.
These investments are "a mirror on the mind of 19th-century intellectuals", Ms Patton said. And they demonstrate how 19th-century Australia plugged in to global research. "There is stuff that people do not think that we have here," she said.
Ms Patton points to examples of the breadth of Australian interests, such as the complete collection of the 23-volume Description de l'Egypte, a study of ancient and 18th-century Egypt including close to 1000 colour plates.
The 20-year project was based on the work of scholars accompanying Napoleon's 1798-1801 invasion of the country. When published in the 1820s the volumes had the biggest dimensions of any books in the world.
The library also holds a unique bound volume of handwritten British government records of the slave trade, prepared for a government inquiry at the end of the 18th century.
"We are uncovering things that were listed in the catalogue but which nobody has asked to see before or which were forgotten because nobody could read the 19th-century style on the hand-written cards . . . There are treasures still to find."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/art...erge-from-depths/story-e6frg8nf-1226396008575
Stephen Matchett - June 15, 2012 - 12:00AM
State Library of NSW rare books expert Maggie Patton with some of the American Civil War maps and illustrations. Picture: Sam Mooy Source: The Australian
THE State Library of NSW has found volumes of maps and plans of the American Civil War as it searches its seven levels of underground archives for rare material to add to its digital collection.
The three large volumes date from the 1890s and include immensely detailed maps of major battles plus comprehensive guides to four years of bloody campaigns.
They are part of the official history of the war published by the US government, a definitive source on what was then one of the world's most destructive wars. The struggle fascinated Australians at the time and was a precursor to CEW Bean's famous official World War I history of the Anzacs. "As far as we know we are the only library holding the volumes in Australia," said rare books expert Maggie Patton.
The discovery was made as the library prepares to spend $85 million from this week's state budget digitising records and rare books. The project is designed to increase awareness and access to its vast collection of hidden treasures.
Recommended Coverage
Treasures of the State Library of NSW
The sumptuously produced Civil War volumes are typical of the high-quality craftwork of 19th-century luxury publishing demonstrated throughout the library's important collection of rare, large-format books in science and exploration, natural history and travel.
State law required a copy of every book published in NSW to be deposited in the library from the 1890s. The library also retained a London agent to bid on important overseas collections.
These investments are "a mirror on the mind of 19th-century intellectuals", Ms Patton said. And they demonstrate how 19th-century Australia plugged in to global research. "There is stuff that people do not think that we have here," she said.
Ms Patton points to examples of the breadth of Australian interests, such as the complete collection of the 23-volume Description de l'Egypte, a study of ancient and 18th-century Egypt including close to 1000 colour plates.
The 20-year project was based on the work of scholars accompanying Napoleon's 1798-1801 invasion of the country. When published in the 1820s the volumes had the biggest dimensions of any books in the world.
The library also holds a unique bound volume of handwritten British government records of the slave trade, prepared for a government inquiry at the end of the 18th century.
"We are uncovering things that were listed in the catalogue but which nobody has asked to see before or which were forgotten because nobody could read the 19th-century style on the hand-written cards . . . There are treasures still to find."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/art...erge-from-depths/story-e6frg8nf-1226396008575
Bringing the