The Mathews Collection was presented to the National Library in 1939 by Gregory Macalister Mathews (1876-1949) and is the product of almost twenty years of collecting. Mathews was a noted ornithologist and author of the monumental work Birds of Australia (14v. London: Witherby, 1910-27).
This collection of books, pamphlets, reprints, manuscripts and pictorial material contains many rare items and is regarded as the most comprehensive collection relating to the study of Australian birds to be assembled. Pictorial items in the collection include water-colours by notable artists such as the Cayleys, John Gould, J.W. Lewin and Lilian Medland; manuscripts include those of Mathews himself, John Gould and Sylvester Diggles.
A Checklist to the Mathews Ornithological Collection was published by the Library in 1968 and lists the complete collection. There is also an annotated catalogue (with detailed annotations, author and subject entries), jointly compiled by Mathews and a member of National Library staff, housed with the collection.
The Mathews Collection is available through the Petherick Reading Room.
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