As Venus and Jupiter scamper across our night skies we mark the appointment of Charles Rumker as Australia's first government astronomer in July 1826 with this, his remarkably rare star atlas inscribed for Royal presentation to Ernest Augustus I, fifth son of George III
Hordern House is delighted to announce our new catalogue, which takes as its theme the spirit of Enlightenment in terms of exploration and voyages. The great explosion of late eighteenth century voyages is represented by important works by many of the key figures, naturally enough focussing on Cook and La Pérouse, but with forays into all manner of works which reveal the scale of the ambition which underwrote them, whether it be the travels of...
The first major exhibition in the UK to present a history of Indigenous Australia through objects, celebrating the cultural strength and resilience of both Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders. This culture has continued for over 60,000 years in diverse environments which range from lush rainforest and arid landscapes to inland rivers, islands, seas and urban areas today. Hundreds of different Indigenous groups live across this vast continent, each with their own defined areas, languages...
read more about Enduring Civilisation: Indigenous Australia at the British Museum
Acquired for the Kerry Stokes Collection in January 2014, this superb example of Flemish book illumination will be on public display, for the first time in Australia, in the Treasures Gallery. A selection of the National Library’s own medieval and Renaissance treasures will complement the Rothschild Prayer Book.
read more about The Rothschild Prayer book at the National Library
18 July 2014 will mark 200 years since the publication of A Voyage to Terra Australis, the classic account of the voyage of HMS Investigator written by Matthew Flinders.
To celebrate, Hordern House has published in full an important eyewitness account of the fate of the Flinders expedition originally written in 1806. As is discussed in the introduction and notes, this anonymously published Narrative was almost completely overlooked for more than two centuries, but is now...
read more about Sailing with Flinders: a new publication by Hordern House
Hordern House will be showing a selection of rare western books on China at the 2014 China In Print fair which this year will be held for the first time at the new Hong Kong Maritime Museum located at Pier 8 on Victoria Harbour. The web version of our catalogue for the fair is hyperlinked through out to full descriptions and photographs of the works we will have on show, which include a remarkable suite...
read more about Hordern House exhibiting western works on China in Hong Kong
Hordern House is pleased to announce the release of The West Coast, 1616-1829, a collection of 31 significant books, pictures and manuscripts relating to the west coast of Australia before settlement. The catalogue can be downloaded in full here, or contact us, books@hordern.com.
Hordern House was pleased to host an evening celebrating the life and legacy of Seamus Heaney. An annual inititiative of the Global Irish Studies Centre at the University of New South Wales, Hordern House welcomed special guest Thomas Keneally, along with Gabrielle Carey and Geordie Williamson and an enthusiatic audience.
read more about Thomas Keneally and Seamus Heaney at Hordern House
Booksellers & Librarians in a Changing World
Hordern House recently attended the joint conference by the Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers and the National Library of Australia, held at the National Library Canberra. Anne McCormick was part of the panel discussion 'People of the Book: Tales from the World of the Antiquarian Bookseller', her expertise and tales, along with other panel members, kept the large crowd that had assembled in the theatre...
Just a few examples of the Sydney Punchbowl remain for sale at the start of 2014: production has now been completed in China and the remaining bowls will soon be arriving in Sydney. Please contact us for more details or to reserve one of these last few.
More about the bowl can be seen here:
Punchbowl information.
We have published Elizabeth Ellis' authoritative book on the Sydney Punchbowl. More information and orders here:
Elizabeth Ellis' book.
