The Library's principal resource on Mauritius is a privately formed collection of approximately 4 500 pieces acquired in 1968 through E.M. Lawson & Co. of England. The collection was formed by a Mauritian bibliophile, Andre de Chapuiset le Merle. The items of the collection are in French or English, with a few in Dutch. Imprints range from 1702 to the 1960s. In addition there are six seventeenth century voyages.
The subject of the collection is Mauritius, its history including a number of voyages "aux longs cours" which touched there; biographies; government reports and statistical publications; scientific works, including government publications on climate, geography, forests, flora, agriculture, hygiene, medicine, zoology and fauna; literature and periodicals.
The standard bibliography is the Bibliography of Mauritius (1502-1954) by A. Toussaint and H. Adolphe. Port Louis, 1956. Copies are at RF 969.820016 M454 and YY 016.96982 MAU. Many of the items listed form part of the Mauritius Collection.
A short account of Australia's links with Mauritius by Edward Duyker "Histoire genealogique: Mauritius and family history at the National Library" was published in National Library of Australia News, October 1993.
An account of the National Library's rich collection of books, journals and manuscripts, acquired in 1968 after the death of Mauritian collector, André de Chapuiset Le Merle was published in National Library of Australia News, July 2007.
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