The Rex Nan Kivell Collection

Originally from New Zealand, by 1931 Rex Nan Kivell was managing director of the Redfern Gallery in London. Over time Nan Kivell built up a sizeable personal collection of rare and important maps, manuscripts, prints, paintings and books relating to Australian and Pacific exploration. Consisting of 15 000 items, the collection reveals Nan Kivell’s interest in the pictorial representation of Australia’s history through his very fine selection of works. The 1637 painting Portrait of Abel Tasman, his Wife and Daughter is of particular historical interest as it was painted only seven years before Tasman’s first voyage to Australia. Works by Conrad Martens, Augustus Earle, John Skinner Prout, Eugene Von Guerard and Nicholas Chevalier are included in the collection.

In 1939 England was at war with Germany and faced the threat of invasion, Anxious to preserve his collection, Nan Kivell attempted to persuade the National Library of Australia to accept it on loan. The Library was reluctant to accept the cost and responsibility of housing such a large collection that it did not own and for a while negotiations stalled.

The end of the war brought new complications for Nan Kivell. His collection had continued to grow and he now faced the problem of storage. Once again he offered it to the National Library on loan. In 1947 Kenneth Binns retired and Harold White was appointed Head Librarian. White recognised the importance of the collection to the young National Library. He also reasoned that once the Library had the collection in its possession it would be in a better position to negotiate its purchase. In 1949 the Library accepted the collection on extended loan and in 1962 was finally able to purchase it.

George Baxter 1804-1867
The massacre of the lamented missionary the Rev. J. Williams and Mr Harris 1841
print; 21.4 x 32 cm
Rex Nan Kivell Collection
Pictorial Collection U5346

Gaut, Joseph
Rangihuatau, Chief of Wanganui, New Zealand 1887
oil on canvas; 69 x 51.3 cm
Rex Nan Kivell Collection
Pictorial Collection NK3647

Axel Poignant (1906–1986)
Rex Nan Kivell Presenting the Sir Harold White Collection of Early Australian Material at Osborne House 1950s
photograph
Pictorial Collection Portrait

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