THE TURNBULL LIBRARY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 234, 28 June 1920, Page 6

THE TURNBULL LIBRARY

OFFICIAL OPENING TO-DAY WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF BOOKS PACIFIC HISTORY The Turnbull Library is to be opened officially to-dny by the Minister of Internal Affairs 'Hon. G. J. Anderson). This remarkable library, which was bequeathed to tho nation by the late Mr. A. H. Turnbull, has been placed under tho supervision of tho Board of Scisnco •and Art, and it is to be available in future for'the use of students, historians, authors, anil others who may have good reasons for wishing to consul) 1 , the many raro books it contains. The rules governing the use oi the library are intended to exclude the merely casual reader. The Turnbull Library is intended for refeitnse, not for entertainment.

The library is housed in 'tho late Mr. Turnbull's residence in Bowen Street. Tho Government ncc[iiired this large brick building in order to avoid moving the books, and very little alteration has been necessary. Mr. J. C. Andersen was appointed librarian about a year ago, anil sinco then ho and his s'aff have been working on the organisation of the. collection. They are making a catalogue and a cross index, and they have dealt to for with about 8000 of tho 40,000 books that klie library contains. '• Tho index contains already over 50,000 cards. Mr. Turnbull possessed the largest known collection of works dealing with the Pacific, including many unique books and manuscripts, and it is to This section that the completed portion of the index relates. The section includes the. first log-book by Captain Cook, ns master's niato of the Eagle in 1755-56, mid ninny other treasures of cxtromo interest and high value. Tho collection of Pncific voyages is tho most completo in existence, and will be a mino of information to [liudents in the years to come.

Tho classification nf tho books and manuscripts is proving that the Turnbull Library is even more valuable than was originally believed. There are over 40.C00 bound Irooks, and very many of these nro rare, works or first editions. There are also very many parcels nf unbound books, pamphlets, maps, charts, historical drawings and ntchlngs, autograph letters, and photographs. The examination of all the contents of the library will be a work of years, and there is evidencn already that unsuspected treasures will bo brought to light.

The greater part of the .rest of tho library is occupied with English literature, along with a fine range of historical works, especially dealing with tho British Navy, on which subject the literature is welt up to date. In English literature Mr. Turubull specialised in rare editions and first editions of works by writers of tho first rank. Thnso include.some remarkable volumes. There is, for instance, a set comprising almost every editoiu ever printed of Swinburne's works. Among these are two copies, and the only two copies in the world, of the first edition of "Poems mid Ballads." A curious circumstance accounts for the rarity of these books. Aftoj - the edition was printed, a copy was bound and sen); to tho author for final.revision. In this copy ho made about twenty alterations. In order to correct the other copies, the pages to bo amended were cut out and owners pasted in their place. The first edition as originally printed (not a large one) is therefore "mutilated," except for the marked copy and for one other which the printer retained in Ins possession for about thirty-nine years. These are tho two in the Turnbull Library. There is also the manuscript of tho poem "Ah, A Dog> Grave." Another notablo book is a first and unaltered edition of the same author's "Under the Microscope." In this book he dealt so severely with Tennyson's "Idylls of the King" that ho was compelled to expurgate it, and the unaltered edition is very rare. A companion volume contains both tho unaltered and the altered versions. This book was also ainendco by pasting in the new leaves. The value of individual books in the literature seotion runs oilten to hundreds of pounds. It was the custom of Mr. Turnbull when ho bought a book of more than ordinary value to have it specially bound.. In general, his agents were instructed to buy only books bound in the best style; but those which he thought worthy of it were lavishly treated. All tho rarer and more valuable volumes are preserved in most beautiful covers, and these are specimens of bookbinding such as are vtry ■ rarely to bo seen. "Crushed morocco" and other leathers; perfect gildInn; watered silk and satin "end-papeis" ure characteristic of the bindings, and many of them are almost a species of jewellery, which 'it is a pleasure to see and handle. . Many.of the books are fitted into beautifully-made cases of fireproof materials, as a special protection. Some, very handsome book-oases adorn the library. Theso are of cedar, rosewood, blackwood, rimu, and othor fine timbers, and harmonise with the panelled wnlls. Wlion the library is fully arranged V;he rooms in which the finer sections are kept will be . admirable spectacles.-