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March News and our Convict list

Wednesday March 9, 2016

We have posted online our March list: a selection focussed on transportation and the convict era. In addition to the early settlement accounts of Arthur Phillip and Watkin Tench, this catalogue includes a range of more unusual material such as the cover item: a wonderfully detailed satirical Gillray print; a needlework sampler referring to Botany Bay; and a late eighteenth-century chapbook. Of special interest are original documents that give an insight into the fate of convicts including a lengthy...

California International Book Fair 12-14 February 2016

Tuesday February 9, 2016

We have posted online versions of the two catalogues we are taking to the Pasadena Bookfair encompassing rare works on exploration from 1558-1889 here and fine illustrated books centred on the Northwest Coast of America here. The descriptions in these pdf catalogues are all clickable links which will take you to fuller descriptions, condition reports, and further images on our website.


The prices in these catalogues are shown in US dollars (our overseas customers may...

December news & Nautical Medicine list

Friday December 4, 2015

Our December list includes a diverse selection of books and manuscripts relating to nautical medicine. Most material concerns the problem of scurvy in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and some publications arise from the experiences of James Cook at sea. They include Sir John Pringle’s famous Royal Society address of 1776 amongst other lesser known works. The reaction of French surgeons and naval authorities to English advances in the treatment of scurvy is amply...

November news & the Sydney Rare Book Fair

Wednesday November 4, 2015

Our November list highlights a few treasures relating to some remarkable colonial women: Mary Reibey's copy of the NSW Directory printed by Anne Howe; a fine rare drawing by Ann Piper; a study of Homebushby Louisa Ann Meredith; a manuscript letter by the grand voyager Rose de Freycinet; and a fine copy of Mary Ann Parker's Voyage round the world, containing the first commentary of life in Australia by a woman. In addition we have some fine caricatures of  life...

October News & Longitude List

Tuesday October 13, 2015
Our October list presents a selection of rare printed and manuscript material relating to the discovery of longitude. Following the disastrous loss of life at the Scilly Isles in 1707, resolving the problem assumed unprecedented importance and the famous reward was instituted by an Act of Parliament in 1714 (see item number 7). Other items of interest include an astronomy textbook from the library of John Harrison with his inscription, and a letter from d'Entrecasteaux's...

Our September Catalogue and new on-line lists

Wednesday September 16, 2015
Hordern House is please to announce our September 2015 catalogue which offers a select range of early printed and visual material from broad Pacific interest to First Fleet and early colonial settlement of Australia. The full catalogue can be downloaded or viewed on-line here
 
A few highlights are the unpublished journal of Pacific coastal exploration by Moraleda Y Montero; a marvellous copy of Barros' 16th century Chronicle of Portuguese exploration; voyage accounts by Cook...

Inspiration by design: Word and Image from the V&A

Tuesday August 11, 2015 - Sunday September 27, 2015

Don’t miss this stunning free exhibition at the State Library of New South Wales that showcases some of the world’s finest book art, graphics, photography and illustration. From London’s acclaimed Victoria and Albert Museum, Inspiration by Design celebrates 150 years of collecting by the National Art Library. Immerse yourself in the book beautiful, from historic illustrated manuscripts and rare artists’ books to modern graphic design and fashion photography.