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June 2006
Background
This report offers a review of recent major acquisitions of significance and trends in collection development activity in the National Library. It covers the period from November 2005 to April 2006. It does not describe the large volume of acquisitions of both Australian and overseas materials that are routinely acquired through deposit, purchase or donation to build the collections. During the financial year 2005-2006 it is estimated that the Library will acquire over 380 000 collection items in a wide range of formats.
Australian Printed Materials
A major collecting priority for the National Library is literature on Pacific voyages, and on the major figures involved in the European discovery and exploration of Australia and the Pacific. Significant items from two major collections were acquired in the period covered by this report.
Part One of the David Parsons Collection of rare Pacific voyage books was offered for sale by Hordern House. This part of the collection covers the period from Dampier to Cook, the late 17th to late 18th century. The Library held 90 per cent of material listed in Part One. Amongst the items not held were some very rare and unusual items relating to Cook’s voyages including eye-witness accounts and depictions of his death. Acquisition of items from this collection has given the Library the opportunity to strengthen holdings of German imprints and to improve holdings of United States imprints on Cook. The Library acquired six items at a total cost of $145,350.
- The history of Wallis’s & Carteret’s voyage round the world: begun in the year 1766, and finished in 1768. London: Printed for A. Wren & G. Hodges, 1784. The first appearance of a short narrative of Captain Samuel Wallis in the Dolphin accompanied by Philip Carteret in the Swallow with Admiralty instructions to search for the Southern Continent, predating Cook’s Endeavour voyage by two years. The pair discovered Tahiti, Pitcairn Island and other South Pacific islands and took possession for the British crown. The Library holds the log of the Dolphin, 1766-1767 in the Manuscript collection, so this acquisition also complements this holding. Only one overseas library is known to hold this item.
- Lichtenberg, Georg Christoph. Leben des Weltumseglers und Entdeckers James Cook: mitglied der koniglichen Societat der Wissneschaften in London aus authentischen quellen. Frankfurt and Leipzig, 1781. One of the earliest separately published accounts of the third voyage including Cook’s biography by Lichtenberg but revised from its original appearance in Gottingisches magazine.
- Kurzegefasste Nachricht von dem unglucklichen Schicksal und Tode des beruhmten Englischen See Capitain Cooks [1780?] 18 x 33 cm. Article with accompanying engraved depiction of the death of Cook in Hawaii, possibly the earliest description and depiction of Cook’s death and possibly one of the earliest depictions of Hawaii. Probably published in the Messager boiteux, an almanac from Berne or Basle. This item is not recorded in any bibliographies and is not known to be held anywhere else.
- Rickman, John. An authentic narrative of a voyage to the Pacific Ocean: performed by Captain Cook, and Captain Clerke, in his Britannic Majesty’s ships, the Resolution, and Discovery, in the years, 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780 … Philadelphia, Printed and sold by Robert Bell, 1783. 2 volumes in 1. The 1st US edition of Cook’s third voyage previously attributed to William Ellis but known to be written by John Rickman who sailed on the third voyage. No known Australian holdings.
- Explanation of the print = Sujet de l’estampe. London, [between 1782 and 1784]. 1 sheet, 34 cm. Only contemporary explanation in English and French, of the Bartolozzi engraving after Webber’s Death of Cook, which was issued separately prior to the third voyage account (1784). This item is not recorded in any bibliographies and is not known to be held anywhere else. This sheet complements the four versions of Bartolozzi (separately issued) held by the Library.
- Two articles that appeared in the periodical Gottingisches Magazin der Wissenschaften und Litteratur in 1780-1783. Forster, Georg. IV Fragmente uber Capitain Cooks letzte Reise und sein Ende. Lichtenberg, Georg Christoph. VI Einige Lebensumstande von Capt. James Cook, grosstentheils aus schriftl. Nachrichten eininger seiner Bekannten gezogen. The earliest published authentic information on Cook’s third voyage and death. They are accounts taken from Zimmerman and Lohmann, members on the third voyage after being interviewed by Forster.
The second part of the Rodney Davidson collection covering printed works, manuscripts, pictures and maps relating to Australia from 1810 until the discovery of gold in 1850 was auctioned in February 2006. As with the David Parsons collection, the Library already held a large percentage of the material on offer. Nine items were acquired at a cost of $670,075 and are listed below. Two works are not known to be held by any other Australian library.
- Lhotsky, John. A journey from Sydney to the Australian Alps, undertaken in the months of January, February and March 1834: being an account of the geographical & natural relation of the country traversed, its aborigines, &c… Sydney: By Commission at R. Ackerman’s Repository of Arts, 1835 [i.e.1834‑1836] 118p. Documents Lhotsky’s journey and his exploration of parts of the Snowy Mountains to below the tree line and the first to bring the Snowy River to public attention. He demystified the Monaro Region by providing tangible geographic information which furthered the expansion of white settlers past the theoretical frontier of Michelago. Only eight parts of a projected 20part work were published. Most subscribers cancelled their subscriptions during the long delay with the result that few ‘complete’ copies exist.
- Commemoration of the boon of the separation of the province of Victoria from the colony of New South Wales: Melbourne, the fifteenth November, 1850… Melbourne: Printed in the line of the procession, 1850. one broadside; 37cm. This acquisition complements six contemporary sources on the separation of Port Phillip.
- Carron, William. Narrative of an expedition undertaken under the direction of the late Mr. Assistant Surveyor E.B. Kennedy, for the exploration of the country lying between Rockingham Bay and Cape York. Fressingfield: Printed by S. Nobbs, 1859.
- Batman, John. The settlement of John Batman in Port Phillip: from his own journal. Melbourne: George Slater, 1856. Library holds a 1985 facsimile edition published by Quest T. Publishing.
- Gemmell, James. Two years in Van Diemen’s Land [contained in] Watertown Register, Vol. 16, no. 757 (July 16 1842). Watertown, New York, 1842. An account of a Canadian exile’s experiences at Port Arthur. The Canadian Rebellion of 1837-1838 saw Americans and Canadians wanting to free oppressed Canadians in what is now Ontario. Of the 885 convicts, the majority being Americans, some 160 of them were illegally transported to New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land in 1839-1840. Many escaped or returned to America or Canada on the expiration of their sentences. Gemmell claimed to be the first to escape from Van Diemen’s Land. Not held by any other Australian library.
- The full particulars of the trial and sentence of John Harper, an auctioneer of this city… Norwich: Walker, Printer, [ca. 1820s-1840s] Broadside, 38 cm. A regional imprint of a transportation broadside. Not held by any other Australian library.
- Van Diemen’s Land Company. Minutes of the Van Diemen’s Land Company: established by an act of Parliament, introduced by His Majesty’s Ministers and passed without any single opposition in any one of its stages; together with a list of its governors, directors, auditors, officers, &c. Hobart, Printed by Andrew Bent, at the Tasmanian Patent Press, Colonial Times Office, 1826. Contains copies of important letters of Edward Curr, Secretary to the proposed Van Diemen’s Land Company. This acquisition complements an extensive series of the Company’s reports for the period 1827-1862 held by the Library.
- Wilkes, Charles. Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition: during the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842 … Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard, 1845. 5 volumes.
- Leichhardt, Ludwig. Notes on the geology of parts of New South Wales & Queensland made in 1842-43. Sydney: John L. Sherriff, [1867-1868. Two parts published as an offprint.
The Library acquires artists’ books on a selective basis as examples of the art and craft of book production. An interesting range of works have been purchased in the period under review.
- Friend, Donald. Bumbooziana. Melbourne: Gryphon Books, 1979. The rare special issue, number 8 of 10 bound by Zaehnsdorf in full purple morocco, the front board with pictorial leather onlay, silk-lined endpapers, spine with raised bands, leather hinges, edges gilt, in mauve slipcase as issued.
- Watson, Judy. A preponderance of Aboriginal blood; sixteen etchings with chine colle. Brisbane: Numero Uno Publications, 2005. Limited edition of 5 copies. Library’s copy is no. 4.
- Lyssiotis, Peter. A Gardener at midnight; travels in the Holy Land. [Melbourne]: Masterthief, 2004. Limited edition of 10 copies. Library’s copy is no. 7. This artist’s book was completed during 2003-2004, during the occupation of Iraq by the ‘Coalition of the willing’.
- Wallace, Carmel. Lagoon, Portland, Vic., 2005. Limited edition of 30. Library’s copy is no. 3. Produced in collaboration with writer Anna Lanyon, Lagoon is a suite of etchings that explores the natural and social history of an ancient intertidal lagoon in the heart of Western Victoria. The prints are housed within a stainless steel presentation box.
- Dupont, Stephen. Raskols. Bondi Beach, Border Town Production, 2005. In 2004 Stephen Dupont infiltrated a ‘Raskol’ community to document the individuals behind the facelessness of gang warfare. Raskol presents formal portraits of the ‘Kips Kaboni’ or ‘Red Devils’, Papua New Guinea’s longest established Raskol group. The book is hand made by the artist and has aluminium front and back covers and is housed inside a hand made aluminium clam shell box. Only one copy has been produced to date. All pages are silver gelatin prints. There is some text which has been created with the use of a razor blade on the paper.
Australian Electronic Publications
The Library’s Digital Archiving Section seeks out and archives significant Australian websites and other online documents as a way of preserving this aspect of Australia’s published heritage material. The following examples of online resources recently archived show the diversity of the material being collected and preserved in the PANDORA Archive.
- Defence 2020: Protecting Australia's people and places. Commonwealth Government education initiative. The website includes online interactive 'decision-makers' games.
- Inquiry into certain Australian companies in relation to the UN Oil-for-Food Programme. Website of the Cole Inquiry and includes all the documentation including transcripts and submissions.
- Sports Australia Hall of Fame. Website for the Sports Hall of Fame including information about the members and 'legends'. Also includes information about the winners of the Don Award and the Team Sport Australia Award.
Manuscripts
The Library acquired further Deakin family material with the papers of Alfred Deakin’s grandson Kenneth Rivett, academic, immigration reformer and refugee advocate. An addition to the papers of Patrick McMahon Glynn, a Federal and South Australian parliamentarian and Minister, documents early 20th century views on the future of the Murray River and dissent over diversion of water from the Murray and its tributaries.
Papers of one of Australia’s most popular literary and public figures, Tom Keneally, were donated to the Library in November. This very large collection covering more than thirty years of Keneally’s career documents the development of more than sixty novels, screenplays, plays and television scripts, together with correspondence and interaction with the Australian public on a wide range of issues. There were also additions of further letters of Patrick White, Judith Wright and Michael Dransfield which strengthened the Library’s holdings of these important writers.
The collections on performing arts were enhanced by a donation from singer, composer and festival director, Robyn Archer and by a generous donation of archival performance recordings of the pianist Geoffrey Parsons by his brother. In addition, the Library is now the custodian of the Records of the UNESCO supported International Council for Traditional Music, recently transferred from the United States of America following the appointment of the ANU’s Professor Stephen Wilde as Secretary-General of the Council.
The Library’s art collections were strengthened with the addition of further papers of painters Hilda Rix Nicholas, Judy Cassab and Eirene Mort. Mort’s papers include a three volume manuscript Mort family history, drawings, verse and correspondence extending from 1904 to 1980. The Library had sought this collection for more than twenty years.
Nancy Bird Walton donated photographs, documents and a certificate authenticating the presence of her autographed copy of her autobiography on the spaceflight of the shuttle Discovery in 2005. Charles Kingsford-Smith’s ‘wings’ were also present on the flight.
The Library acquired two important early 19th century items during this period. Four manuscript issues of Melbourne’s first newspaper, the Melbourne Advertiser, were purchased at the Rodney Davidson auction. The Library now owns seven of the ten original manuscript issues, all in splendid condition. Also purchased at the Davidson auction was an important letter by John Batman to James Simpson, Police Magistrate at Campbelltown (Tasmania), 26 June 1830. The letter reports on Batman's efforts to clarify the claims of some captured Aboriginal women that an Aboriginal woman had been killed by white men and buried near Piper's River.
Maps
There have been over the last six months several acquisitions of charts that describe the Dutch and immediate post Dutch understanding of the Australian continent, together with some important post-settlement maps.
- Novissima Totius Orbis Tabula is a very fine double-hemisphere world map typical of late seventeenth century Dutch cartography from the Allard family, and is notable for the superb illustrations which could hang beside any master print of the baroque period. The engravings are by the renowned Dutch engraver Romein de Hooghe.
- Significant for being the first chart published in England to detail the Australian coast A Draught of the coast of New Holland and Parts Adjacent by hydrographer John Thornton, summarises the work of English and Dutch navigators of the preceding years. It is the first map to integrate both Dampier's discoveries and mention of the wreck of the East Indiaman Tryall, arguably the first English ship to land in Australia, somewhere near the North West Cape in May 1621. This 1703 map summarises the Dutch discoveries and includes mapping of the southern part of the East Indies, together with the survey by English explorer William Dampier in 1699 commanding the HMS Roebuck.
- East Indies drawn from the latest discoveries by Thomas Jefferys is an attractive and beautifully engraved map published in 1748. It provides very detailed coverage throughout the region extending from India to Japan and south to the New Holland coast, including a hypothetical coastline ‘The land of the Holy Ghost.’
The Chart of Van Diemen's Land by Thomas Bowen was published in London in 1780 and is a nautical chart of coastal Tasmania from South West Cape to Maria's Isles. It shows the track of the Resolution on Captain Cook's third voyage in 1777. Several views of Van Diemen's Land are shown pictorially on the map.
Thomas Mitchell’s 1834 benchmark map of the Colony of New South Wales is among several early eighteenth century terrestrial map acquisitions and provides an accurate record of settlement to that date. Also acquired were several colonial maps aimed at the popular education market and produced in the 1830s by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.
A highlight purchase from the Rodney Davidson auction is a map made by Ludwig Leichhardt of part of the South Queensland Downs. It is a clear illustration and extremely rare example of the role a survey map could play in the opening up of new territory. Thought to have been executed a few months before Leichhardt’s second and ill-fated attempt to cross the continent from east to west in April 1848, the map is the last remaining of 15 lithographs presented to a select few pastoralists, in this case the squatter Arthur Hodgson of Eton Vale, later Sir Arthur Hodgson, MLC, MLA, Member for Clarence and Darling Downs. The map is dedicated in Leichhardt’s own hand.
A geological map of the Foster gold field in south west Gippsland, dated July 31st 1875, was also received. The map shows gold workings at Turton's Creek, including the geological composition and period stratas of the region with the gold deposits shown in yellow. Gold was discovered at Foster and Turton’s Creek in the 1870s and while the finds were never as rich as those elsewhere in Victoria, goldmining continued through to the 1930s.
Music and Dance
Recent acquisitions highlight the broad scope of material that is acquired, ranging in date from the 19th to the 21st centuries and including pictures, manuscripts and printed music. Highlights for the period are:
- The first consignment of music and papers from Richard Bonynge and Dame Joan Sutherland. In eight boxes this small part of Bonynge’s collection comprises scores and parts of operas performed in Australia in the 19thcentury.
- Manuscript scores by Australian composers John Antill (Black Opal and Wakooka), Kurt Herweg (Jedoah) and Bruce Lawrence (The Genius). The works were commissioned and produced by the choreographic ensemble Ballet Australia in the 1960s.
- Costume drawings and photographs documenting the State Opera of South Australia’s 2004 production of Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen. This was the first all-Australian production of the complete Ring cycle.
- A collection of 60 sketches, mostly pastel or charcoal on paper, by Australian-born artist Enid Dickson. Dickson spent many hours backstage sketching dancers, including those from the touring Ballets Russes companies and later, dancers from newly-formed Australian companies.
- A collection of 8 images of the Stamping Ground Dance Festival. The images contain significant representations of contemporary urban dance and of young people, particularly young men, engaging in the creative processes of dance‑making.
- A small photographic collection relating to the Ballets Russes tours to Australia taken by Ivan Repin and including portrait studies, informal pictures of dancers at leisure at the Repin home in Bellevue Hill, Sydney and performance shots taken from the circle at the Theatre Royal.
Acquisitions of Australian sheet music have included a number of patriotic anthems and war songs such as Land of the Southern Cross written for the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge (1932); Australia! Oh thou favoured isle! a national anthem with words by C.J. Dennis (1927); Flags of the free (1908); Recruiting song, [191-?] and a song from the Boer War The Queen's fifteen: an Australian national song [190‑?]. Another highlight was twelve items of published music by Paolo Giorza, an Italian musician who resided in Australia from 1871-1883 and contributed greatly to Australian musical life of the time.
Oral History
During the period under review interviews were conducted with eminent Australians in a wide range of endeavours, and a number of specialised projects were advanced. Activity was particularly strong in the fields of arts and literature, and interviews were recorded with Domenic Mico, multicultural arts director; dancer Alana McKinley; writer Leonard Radic; theatre directors Gale Edwards, Andrew Guild and Philip Quast; actor Tony Sheldon, opera director Moffatt Oxenbould and music broadcaster John Cargher. Children’s author Mem Fox and writer Dorothy Johnston were also interviewed.
The historian Dr Susan Marsden continued a series of interviews with fellow historians including Professors Janet McCalman, Marian Quartly and Stuart Macintyre. In politics and government Dr Norman Abjorensen interviewed Hon. Michael Beahan, former President of the Senate and former Senator Hon. Jocelyn Newman. Jonathan Gaul, political journalist was interviewed by Fred Brenchley.
Astronomers Professors Matthew Colles, Richard Hunshead and Bryan Boyle were interviewed by Dr Ragbir Bhathal. Gregg Borschmann interviewed Henry Nix, agricultural scientist and David Paton, ecologist. Dr Jan Lyall conducted interviews with conservators Andrew Durham, Christopher Payne, Ian Godfrey and Ian Macleod and museum director Dawn Casey.
Interviews conducted jointly with the State Library of South Australia included surgeon Dr Donald Beard, grazier Colin Broad, horticulturalist David Ruston OAM and sculptor Andrew Steiner.
Ann-Mari Jordens conducted interviews with Atem Dau Atem, Sudanese refugee and medical scientist; Domenico Romano, Italian migrant, lawyer and advocate for the Italian community in Canberra; and Simon Siharath, Laotian community leader. Peter Parkhill interviewed Amanda Yee, Trish Robinson and Yvonne Steinberg about teaching English to speakers of other languages. Dr Peter Read and Jackie Huggins continued to collect for the Seven Years On: Continuing Life Histories of Aboriginal Leaders and recorded a further four interviews. They also recorded Linda Burney, Sir Gustav Nossel, Mary Graham, Dimity Fifer, Ian Spicer and Rick Farley about their involvement in the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation.
The History of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, an Australian Research Council funded project, recorded interviews with Professors A.G.L. Shaw AO, Jill Roe and Leon Mann.
For the Folklore Collection Rob Willis lodged interviews from the Kempsey, Nulla Nulla, Bellbrook, Condobolin, Sydney and Canberra areas. Fourteen field recordings from Preston West and Warrandyte Primary Schools were received for the Children’s Folklore Project. Dr Karl Neuenfeldt lodged recordings with Torres Strait hula dancers Mary Bowie, Betty Foster, Cessa Mills, Ina Titasey, Sarina Ahmat and Taumatini Tangatatia.
Pictures
A highlight of the Library’s acquisitions for the period was the purchase of the Eric Milton Nicholls collection. The collection consists of historically significant material from the architectural practices of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. The Griffins are two of the most eminent architects to have worked in Australia and architectural historians have credited them with having had a significant influence on Australia’s, and particularly Canberra’s, architecture and history. The collection includes photographs, original architectural plans, presentation drawings on silk and linen, correspondence and other material of significant research value.
A collection of over three hundred photographs taken after the bomb explosion outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta in September 2004 was acquired with the assistance of the Library’s Indonesian Office staff.
Photographic portraits of indigenous dancers, choreographers and commentators who attended Ausdance’s Creating Pathways Forum at the National Museum of Australia in November were acquired. A collection of photographs taken at the Wave Aid Tsunami Relief Concert held in Sydney in January 2005 was acquired which documents contemporary music, aspects of youth culture, and humanitarian work.
A collection of photographs of Cooma and Kosciusko from the 1930s to the 1950s was donated from the National Parks and Wildlife Service in Jindabyne and enhance the Library’s documentation of the Kosciusko region, which is increasingly the focus of research interest.
Twenty-two photographic portraits of Australian artists taken in the 1970s were acquired from the widow of the photographer Richard Beck. The portraits include artists such as David Armfield, Roy Churcher and Jan Senbergs.
A small but delightful collection of colour photographs of children’s activities in outback Queensland by station manager and mother Jennie Bucknell was received.
Asian Publications
During the period Asian Collections acquired a representative sample of current materials documenting sexuality and gender issues. These materials are increasingly in demand by researchers and cover areas of research as diverse as the AIDS epidemic in China, homosexuality in Japan, and the tourism sex trade in Thailand. Items acquired are generally not commercially available and include books, journal issues and pamphlets.
Other Overseas Publications
In addition to collecting a wide range of books and journals published overseas, the Library also acquires electronic and microform research collections to complement and enhance the print collection. During the last six months, the following resources have been made available:
- The microfilm collection Eighteenth century journals from the Hope Collection at the Bodleian Library, Oxford brings together 76 rare journals printed between 1714 and 1799 illuminating all aspects of eighteenth century social, political and literary life. It is complemented by the online collection Eighteenth century journals II: newspapers and periodicals, 1699-1812, from the Harry Ransom Human Centre, University of Texas at Austin which was also acquired in this period. The digital collection makes over 23 000 images available online and has no overlap with Eighteenth Century Collections Online, Early English Books Online, or Early English Newspapers.
- Parts 1 and 2 of Section 2 of the microfilm collection Church Missionary Society Archive. Missions to Women. Part 1: Society for Promoting Female Education (FES) in China, India and the East, 1834-1899 and Part 2: India’s Women and China’s daughters, 1880-1939, and Looking East at India’s Women and China’s daughters, 1940-1957. (29 reels).
- The microform collection Empire and Commonwealth: Archives of the Royal Commonwealth Society from Cambridge University Library. Part 2, Imperial & Commonwealth Conferences, c1887-1955. The 18 reels of microfilm contain conference minutes, reports and papers; articles concerning the conferences; and rare printed works providing a critical history of the Imperial and Commonwealth Conferences.
- The microfilm collection Convict Transportation and the Metropolis: the Letterbooks and Papers of Duncan Campbell (1726-1803) (four reels).
- Part 1 titled China and Japan of the microform collection East India Company Factory Records comprising 34 reels and covering the period 1613-1623 for Japan and 1596-1840 for China. Part 2 continuing the material on the China trade is on order.
- The microfilm collection Delineating British Burma: British Official and Confidential Print, c. 1826-1949 was acquired from IDC Publishers. The 41 reels contain source material on relations between Britain and Burma in this period.
The Library continues to acquire a small number of items for the Rare Books Collection which fill gaps or which otherwise make a substantial contribution to an area of existing strength within the present collection. Acquisitions during the previous six months include:
- Le Chine en Miniature, or Choix de Costumes, Arts et Métiers de cet Empire / M. (Jean Baptiste Joseph) Breton. Paris: A. Nepveu, 1811-1812. No other library in Australia appears to hold all six volumes of this set of Breton’s description of China during the 18th century containing more than 100 coloured plates.
- Relatione della nuova missione delli PP. della Compagnia di Giesv', al regno della Cocincina / Cristoforo Borri. Roma: Per Francesco Corbelletti, 1631. This is the original Italian edition of the earliest detailed account of Cochin China (primarily the south part of modern Vietnam), written by a Jesuit missionary who lived there in the years 1617-1622. The work also provides valuable information about the country’s relations with Japan and China. Borri was a controversial Jesuit as well as a pioneering astronomer and linguist. The Library holds the later English translation in microform and electronic formats but there are no holdings on Libraries Australia for the Italian original.
- Les expéditions de Chine et de Cochinchine; d'après les documents officiels par le baron de Bazancourt. Paris: Amyot‚ 1861-62. Two parts in one. The work is an account of the two Anglo-French expeditions to China, part one covering the first expedition of 1857-8 and part two comprising an account of the second expedition in 1860 which culminated in the burning of the Yuanmingyuan imperial garden outside Peking. Baron de Bazancourt accompanied the expedition and this is a detailed eyewitness account accompanied and enhanced by accounts from official documents, primarily French. The work does not appear to be held elsewhere in Australia.
- The history of papermaking in the Philippines / Peter Thomas and Donna Thomas. Santa Cruz, California: P. & D. Thomas, 2005. Seventy-five copies of this book have been handset, letterpress printed on handmade paper and hand bound. The book is quarter bound with a red Moroccan leather spine and the boards are covered with T’nalak (a Philippine ikat dyed fabric, made with twisted abaca fiber, woven on a backstrap loom). It is the result of 20 years work and contains a survey of the first printed books made in the Philippines and the paper on which they were printed. It includes eleven paper samples handmade by Filipinos from Philippine plants.
- The discovery and conquest of the Molucco and Philippine Islands: containing, their history, ancient and modern, natural and political ... / written in Spanish by Bartholomew Leonardo de Argensola; now translated into English. Published in London in 1708, this volume is part of a set of seven volumes entitled A new collection of voyages and travels.
- Historia de la celestial vocacion, missiones apostolicas y gloriosa muerte, del Padre Marcelo Franco Mastrili ... / por el P. Ignacio Stafford de la Compania de Jesus. Lisboan: Por Antonio Aluarez, 1639. This book relates the history of an Italian Jesuit missionary who spent time in the Philippines before trying to re-establish the Jesuit mission in Japan in the 1630s.
