One of the National Librarys truly
great collections is that formed by the New Zealand born Sir Rex de Charembac
Nan Kivell known as the Rex Nan Kivell Collection. Its greatness comes
from its combination of pictorial, manuscript and printed material relating to
Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region.
Rex Nan Kivell, 1898-1977 spent the majority of his life as an art dealer in London. The collection comprises over 15,000 items all of which are catalogued and accessible for researchers.
In building his collection Nan Kivell aimed to assemble a pictorial and printed record of the early history of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific together with a collection of portraits of those connected with the discovery, exploration and settlement of those areas. Early records of exploration by sea include Dutch and French maps, sketches by Captain Samuel Wallis during his voyage across the Pacific in 1767 and many items relating to the three voyages by Captain Cook, including drawings and paintings by John Webber and William Ellis. Drawings by Captain John Hunter, Joseph Lycett, Augustus Earle provide early European impressions of Australia. The progress of European settlement is documented by Conrad Martens, William Romaine Govett, Benjamin Duterrau, John Skinner Prout, George French Angas, S T Gill, William Strutt, Eugene von Guerard and Nicholas Chevalier.
Manuscripts include items relating to Captain Cook, William Bligh, Joseph Banks and John Hunter. The Library also holds the papers of Rex Nan Kivell in the Manuscript Collection.
Over 8000 pictorial works from the Nan Kivell collection can be viewed online, by entering the search term 'Rex Nan Kivell' in the Pictures Catalogue.
The numerous printed books and pamphlets from the collection are available for use through the Petherick Reading Room. Manuscripts, pictorial works and maps are available through the respective Manuscript, Pictures and Map Reading Rooms.
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