FACSIMILES AND REPRINTS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21506, 22 June 1935, Page 26

FACSIMILES AND REPRINTS

ttJSCOB&S OF HISTORICAL EVENTS COLLECTION m PUBLIC % LIBRARY It appears likely that quite a number of collections of old English newspapers similar to that exhibited by Mr & H. Andrews to the Town Planning Institute (recorded in "The Press" of Thursday) exist In New Zealand. Mr X. J. Bell, chief librarian at the Christchurch Public Library, yesterday showed to a reporter a group of papers similar in all respects. Some of the papers are definitely reprints. Mr Bell is of the opinion that a set was issued by "The Times," London, either on the jubilee of Queen: Victoria's coronation or on the senteeary of the newspaper's foundation. Ira that case they would be approximately 40 years old. The paper is similar to that then in use. Further, tbe «tamp of the library appearing on them is thought to date to the same period. In some cases the fact that they are facsimiles is noted. In others there is no guide as to whether they are original or not. On one, however, the words appear: "Printed by Marriner «nd Co., Colombo street, Christchurch," Mr Bell thinks that the majority form a set issued at the end of last century, probably in the possession of most libraries now. Those in the Christchurch Public Library have apparently been bound once but the paper Si disintegrating. In addition to the records of outstanding events from 1068 to the Napoleonic wars, there are other documents giving the newspaper accounts of the battles of the Crimean War. Mr Bell remarked that some of the most valuable old papers in the library are those printed in New Zealand, in Maori and in English, in the 'forties of last century.