TURNBULL LIBRARY

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 149, 21 December 1936, Page 14

TURNBULL LIBRARY

UNIQUE TREASURES

SPECIAL EXHIBITION

During the holiday season many visitors from other parts of the country come to Wellington and are glad of the opportunity to see the city's beauty spots and centres of culture. Undoubtedly the Turnbull Library appeals thus to all interested in literature and history, and to meet most easily the convenience of visitors, a special exhibition of a few of the library treasures has been arranged for the coming few weeks.

The present, selection covers broadly the chief aspects of the collections — New Zealand history, English classics, early printing, manuscripts, both European and Australasian, and a small group of letters from famous people. The case of bindings will appeal to all, for the gorgeousness of apparel of some of 'the books is remarkable. Of documents relating to our own end of the world the most important are the two log-books associated with Captain Cook. The two are side by side—the log of the Eendeavour recording the voyage round New Zealand in 1768-70, and the log kept on the Eagle a few years earlier. In the same group is the log of Tasman, together with the MS. of the first translation made at the express order of Sir Joseph Banks. Here, too, is the first printed account in English of Tasman's voyage.

Some of the gems of English literature shown are precious as first editions, though in every case the volumes are either firsts or otherwise famous editions, such as Milton's "P. radise Lost" of 1667.

Of Shakespearean books there is the splendid folio of 1632, and an example of the quarto plays—Romeo and Juliet, ■ 1594, open at the balcony scene.

In the manuscript class is a classic that will appeal to admirers of Australian literature. This is the original of "The Sentimental Bloke," by Dennis. The series of MS. letters is necessarily restricted to a very few of the hundreds in the library, but letters from the following are to be seen:—Gladstone, Blackmore, Stevenson, Sir Joseph Banks, Captain William Bligh, D'Urville, Governor Macquarie, Sir George Grey, Galsworthy, and Matthew Arnold. A grim reminder of the convict days is a certificate of discharge given by Governor Arthur to one who had served his sentence.

Of earlier books, there is a Latin manuscript of 1150, a few examples of incunabula (fifteenth century books) printed in 1471, and onwards. An old atlas of 1631 shows the concept of the Great South Continent at that time, and other geographical oddities. Early voyaging and travel is represented in De Bry's Virginia of 1591, Hakluyt's Voyages, 1598, and Hennepin's exploration in central North America and discovery of Niagara Falls, of 1697. Another early exploration was that of Antoneli, who surveyed the west coast of South America in 1608, and here is his original journal, with finely coloured sketches. The Solomon Islands were discovered by Alvaro de Mendana in 1565, and the library holds the manuscript record of the master pilot Gallego. / This is also on exhibition.

- There are many other treasures to be seen, but sufficient Indication has been given to realise that a visit to this wonderful library would fill a very interesting hour during the period of the exhibition. The library is open on. Sunday afternoons, :and does not close between Christmas and the New Year.