CITY TREASURES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 5, 7 January 1929, Page 8

CITY TREASURES.

OLD BOOKS AND PICTURES.

EXQUISITE MANUSCRIPTS.

FINE MODERN PAINTING.

Libraries appeal to people for different reasons. There are those who live on "thrillers" of the Edgar Wallace type, and would be surprised if any one questioned their claim to be reading people. Others know the library as the place where they procure the weekly stock of reading matter; simply, so many books, with gaudy covers, of which plot, title and author's name are forgotten by the time the next batch is half-consumed. Then there are those who doze away hour after hour aownstairs among the newspapers. One often wonders whether they would not sleep more comfortably in the adjacent Albert Park, where the air would certainly be fresher, and they would not have the bother of having to run over the pages when they wake up. Although we are all very proud of our Public Library, probably few of us realise what its real treasures are—treasures that have made it known on the other side of the world. Thanks to the Grey collection and the Shaw collection, Auckland's name stands high among municipal libraries. Connoisseurs from overseas know more about the library than 90 per cent of Aucklanders themselves. Some of the rare things in the library would not appeal to the ordinary visitor, not very well up in this sort of thing, but on the other hand there are things both rare and beautiful, which would appeal to any person of taste, though not particularly literary. Such, for instance, is the "Missale Romanum," a 15th century illuminated manuscript. Goodness knows how many years went to the making of this lovely thing, but one could well understand the pang of the artist or artists when at last it was finished —it must have been terrible to part with such a gem. The lettering is perfect, the capital letters, especially those at the head of each chapter, stand out like jewels, and the colouring and design and the arabesques of the wide borders of the pages are exquisite. This is the finest illuminated manuscript in the library.

The finest manuscript is another loth century work, the "Biblia Sacra Latina Vulgata," a splendid specimen of the penman's art. The oldest book in the library is a Greek manuscript of the 10th or 11th century, the subject being Lessons from the Gospels. Then there is the 12th century '"Codex Evangelarium," also in Greek; while the "Biblia Sacra Latina," yet another 12th century work, is considered to be the earliest copy of the Scriptures in either New Zealand or Australia. All these valuable things are in the Grey collection, which also contains sonic prized early printed works, including three Caxtons, coveted by more than one distinguished stranger from the Old World. Then we have Spenser's "Faerie Queen," of 1590, and the First, Second and Fourth Folios of Shakespeare, also Shakespeare's "Poems," dated 1640.

The collection given by Mr. Henry Shaw, who is still with us and takes a keen interest in the library, is somewhat on the same general lines as the Grey collection, but it fills a gap with some very fine Oriental illuminated work. It is to Mr. Shaw that the library owes its earliest printed b'ook—Augustine's "De Civitate Dei," printed by Johann Mcntelin, at Strasstmrg, in 14(>7. Then there is the "Biblia Latina," printed by Adolf Rusch, also of Strassburg, in 1479, which is a perfect specimen of workmanship.

In the Art Gallery Auckland possesses a collection of paintings that compare very favourably with municipal galleries in the 01<I Country, but here one has to look to the modern work rather than to tlie old for the most valuable picture*. It is true there are several can vasses reputed to be by old masters whose pictures bring many thousands, but it is highly debatable whether the Auckland examples are originals. The modern work, on the other hand, is surprisingly good. To mention only la few names of British artists, there are pictures by Arnesby Brown, Brangwyn, Julius Olsson, Alma-Tadema. Farquahar'on, Padday, Mnnnings, Clausen, La Thangue, Laura Knight, Terrick Williams and Burne-Jones.

There is nothing elsewhere in New Zealand to approach the Auckland Art (iallery, a fact mainly due to the munificence of the late J. T. Mackelvie, another of Auckland's adopted sons, who showed their love by endowing her handsomely.