HISTORICAL DATA.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20374, 3 July 1934, Page 1

HISTORICAL DATA.

Australia Buys Dalrymple

Collection.

LONDON, June 28.

The Commonwealth Librarian (Mr K. Binns) and Professor Scott inspected to-day |he Dalrymple collection, the purchase of which is almost complete. It comprises 835 charts and maps of the Indian and Pacific Oceans and East Indies ports, drawn and arranged by. Dalrymple, 38 books and tracts of South Pacific discoveries, 16 autograph letters on the discovery and settlement of the Pacific, 16 Dalrympleana, including an Arrow-smith map of the world (1794) showing, particularly, Cook’s discoveries, a memoir qn a chart byRobertson (1805) showing New Holland and New Guinea, and seven original portraits of Dalrymple by* George Dance, who painted Cook. The collecting by the Museum Book Store occupied 20 y-ears.

Professor Scott considers Dalrymple to be more important than is generally recognised. Interest attaches to criticism of Cook’s achievements and records of early Australian although much does not apply particularly to Australia. It is an important contribution to the history of the Pacific, of which Australia should be 'the repository.

Dalrymple research workers, in future, must visit Canberra for the full records.