Highlights: Monash Rare Book Collection 1 August - 27 October 1995

Highlights: Monash Rare Book Collection 1 August - 27 October 1995

The exhibition was held in the Rare Books Exhibition space, Sir Louis Matheson Library, Monash University from 1 August - 27 October 1995. Possession of a significant Rare Book Collection gives an institution a distinctive character. Monash is a young University, having been established in 1961, but from the outset the University Librarian set in place a policy of collecting "rare books". This support has been continued at Monash and we now have one of the best collections in Australia. We are able to offer our patrons access to primary research documents to complement the outstanding range of electronic sources now available through the Library. The emphasis in this exhibition is on the usefulness of the Rare Book Collection as a research tool. We aim to support original research and teaching at the highest level. Our primary clientele is the Monash academic and postgraduate community, though the collection is open to use by all. The items on display range from 18th century manuscripts to private editions of modern poetry. Although our strength is in 17th and 18th century English books, we also have substantial holdings in 19th and 20th century Australiana. History, literature, and art are the main subjects covered, but Monash also has important holdings in the fields of early mathematics and medicine. Among the more unexpected items on display are those relating to Ferdinand von Mueller (nos. 3 and 4); his own, extra-illustrated set of Flora Australiensis, and one of the few surviving sets of his Educational Collections of Australian Plants. It has been our practice to hold at least four exhibitions per year. Each of these is accompanied by a detailed catalogue. On the screens around the perimeter of this exhibition you will see posters for some of our previous displays. Catalogues for many of these are still available. Please enquire at the Rare Books counter, 1st floor, Information Services Building, Main Library.

English

18p.

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