October 2010
Moeurs et coutumes des peuples, 2 vols (Paris: Chez Madame veuve Hocquart, 1811-1814).
This two-volume work contains 144 hand-coloured plates featuring important occasions in various cultures from around the world: marriages, burials, festivals and other significant events. Each region is accompanied by at least one plate. The Pacific is represented by sections on Australia, New Zealand, the Pelew Islands, Society Islands, Friendly Islands (Tonga), Marquesas, and Sandwich Islands. There are also sections on nearby Java, Sumatra, and the Moluccas.
The illustration shown here (vol.2, plate 137) shows a Maori war canoe and it is clear from the colours chosen, that the colourist had never actually seen their subjects at first hand.
This work complements two other illustrated French works on people and cultures held in the Rare Book Collection at the Alexander Turnbull Library: Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur, Moeurs, usages et costumes d’Otahiti ou Taiti ([Paris, 1784]) with its 11 hand-coloured plates focusing on Tahiti and the Marquesas; and the 5 volume Encyclopédie des voyages ([Paris],1796) with its 432 hand-coloured plates illustrating costumes from around the world.
June 2010
Marcus Annaeus Lucanus, De bello civili, libri decem (Franc: Chr. Egenolphum, 1551).
A strength in the rare book collection is the range and quality of its bookbindings. These date from the medieval to the present, and range in style from the simple to the elaborate. Many were collected as part of Alexander Turnbull’s interest in the arts of the book, and the library has continued to build upon this interest.
This early 16th-century Parisian binding was probably bound for Thomas Wotton of Kent (1521-1587). It is bound in light-brown calf over pasteboard, with the upper and lower covers decorated in an elaborate gilt and black-stained strapwork design. Interspersed are small hatched and open leaf tools. The edges of the boards are gold tooled, and the text edges are gilt. The textblock is sewn on five double alum-tawed thongs laced into the boards which show on the repaired spine as five raised bands. The binder, known as the “Wotton Binder C”, was active in Paris from the early 1540s until at least 1563.
Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species (London : John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1859).
On the origin of species was published in London by John Murray on 24 November 1859. Of the edition of 1,250 copies, some 1,170 copies were sold immediately to the book trade. A second edition was published at the end of December 1859 and by the end of the nineteenth century, John Murray had printed more than 56,000 copies of the work. The Turnbull copy is a first edition in its original green cloth binding by Edmonds & Remants of London. At the time of purchase there were no known publicly-held copies in New Zealand. Considered to be one of twelve books which changed the world, the influence of this seminal work continues to be felt to this day.
When writing his book, Darwin drew on information collected when he served as botanist, geologist, zoologist and general man of science on board the naval ship, Beagle, during its five-year voyage around the world between the years 1831 and 1836. When the Beagle arrived off the coast of New Zealand in December 1835, Darwin disembarked, spending a number of days collecting various specimens.
On the origin of species may be viewed by members of the public in the reading room at Archives New Zealand, Murphy Street, between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, by prior arrangement with the Curator, Rare Books and Fine Printing.
