State Library Victoria

An illuminated Qur’an from the Michael Abbott Collection of Southeast Asian Islamic Manuscripts. Photograph: Emily Keppel

Islamic Bookbinding

November 23, 2017

Collection Care, Conservation, Our stories, Preservation:

While the Western tradition of bookbinding is well represented in the State Library Victoria (SLV) collection, the Library also holds a small but fascinating assortment of manuscripts produced in the Islamic world. A clear understanding of the different materials and structures used in the production of Islamic manuscripts is essential for the Library’s Book Conservators to make informed decisions regarding appropriate methods for preservation, repair and display.

Illustrated children’s books: Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886)

November 16, 2017

Our stories:

Randolph Caldecott (1846-1886) broke late 19th century conventions of children’s book illustration by interpreting stories rather than decorating them, peopling them with cheeky caricatures involved in chaotic escapades.

Digital Panopticon: Tracing London convicts in Britain and Australia, 1780-1925

November 16, 2017

Family matters:

Exiting news for those of us who have an interest in researching British convicts transported to Australia. The free website, Digital Panopticon, launched recently in the UK, allows searches of… Read More ›

New Listening : Spring into Summer with music

November 14, 2017

Music, Rare Books & Arts:

Spring into Summer with some great new arrivals in pop, rock, jazz, classical, musical theatre, film soundtracks and opera featuring the following. Dream Lover : the Bobby Darin musical : Australian Cast Recording… Read More ›

View of the north shore, Port Melbourne by WFE Liardet

Uncover a piece of history

November 10, 2017

News:

Imagine tall ships, schooners and yachts crowding the shimmering waters of Hobsons Bay for a grand regatta. Gleaming white sails unfurl and colourful flags fly in the seabreeze. This spirit of joy and the confidence of a young city are captured in an exquisite watercolour of early Melbourne, not seen publicly since it was painted in 1862.

Convict tattoos

October 18, 2017

Such was life:

What do the following things have in common: candlesticks, beehives, cock fights, drinking glasses, swans, flowerpots, crucifixes, stags, comets, and roses? Give up? They’re all convict tattoos.

Illustrated children’s books: Walter Crane (1845-1915)

October 11, 2017

Our stories:

Walter Crane (1845-1915) is today best known for his ornately illustrated 19th century children’s books. He designed artwork for the British master printer Edmund Evans in a variety of capacities for ten years, before Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway joined him as Evans’ triumvirate of children’s Toy Book illustrators.