“Armadillo,” from vol. 3 of Reports of the Princeton University Expeditions to Patagonia, 1896-1899

The latest Special Collections Exhibition has just opened, so why not call in and enjoy some splendid books as one of the many joys of Christmas?  By Land and By Sea. Scientific Expedition Reports in Special Collections from 1826 to the 1960s will run through to 4 March 2016.

Rich with photographs, colourful plates, scientific descriptions, anthropological and geographical observations and general insights into expeditionary life, the Scientific Expedition Reports are a veritable mine of information. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, from Uganda to Patagonia, the earliest of the reports dates from D’Urville’s expedition in the Astrolabe 1826-29, published in 1832, and the latest are from the University of Canterbury Snares Islands expeditions beginning in the 1960s.

Men and women from New Zealand, Australia, Norway, France, Sweden, America, the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, China, Egypt and many more countries besides, have travelled the world by land and by sea in the name of science and exploration and have documented the results in these scientific reports. Many of the scientific observations made and specimens taken are still being researched today and despite the treacherous conditions and ever present risks, most members of these expeditionary parties returned alive. The Scientific Expedition Reports housed in Special Collections, University of Otago, are a testament to and a record of humankind’s insatiable desire for knowledge.

Notable items on display include Dumont D’Urville’s Voyage de la corvette l’Astrolabe… les anneìes 1826-1827-1828-1829 (1830); Sir James Clark Ross’s The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Erebus & Terror (1844-1875); theNovara publications (1868); the Princeton University Expeditions to Patagonia, 1896-1899; the British Antarctic (‘Terra Nova’) Expedition, 1910; and the BANZARE, 1929-1931, under the command of Sir Douglas Mawson. Of particular note is the famed Prof. Benson ‘Geological Map of the Dunedin area’, hand-drawn by Benson form 1920 to 1946. It is large. It is amazing.

Those excited by last month’s Centre for the Book Symposium and/or those who heard Jill speak last year will have high expectations for the class she is offering in London in June 2016.  Full details attached here.

“This course provides a holistic introduction to the study of children’s books, examining the book as a physical object—both bibliographically and materially—with a focus on rarity. Children are hard on their books, which may survive only a single generation. Until the last century, copyright deposit libraries did not especially value the acquisition of books published for children. Books from earlier periods produced for a cheap popular market or published under wartime conditions may be especially scarce.”  20–24 June, University of London.

Shef Rogers will recap his talk for the Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand on Aldine type from 1501.  Entitled “Seeing What You May Not Expect: Type in the Aldine Classics,” this talk examines the 1501 edition of Juvenal and Propertius in light of what Lyonnaise counterfeits of 1504? and 1511? can show us about Manutius and Griffo’s advances in typography.  It will be mercifully short (c. 20 mins), followed by time for chat over some Christmas festive nibbles.  We hope you can join us for a relaxed occasion and chance to catch up with friends of the Centre for the Book before this year passes away.

Thursday, 3 December 2015 at 5:15 pm in CEN 3 of the Central Library, University of Otago.

Donald and Shef and Trish would like to thank all those who attended and presented at the Centre for the Book Symposium last week.  The enthusiasm, engagement and rich conversations exceeded our expectations.

We would also especially like to thank Phillippa Duffy and Bronwyn Wylie-Gibbs for their closing remarks.  A number of people requested a copy of Bronwyn’s ABC, attached here.  We are indeed lucky to have such creative and zealous contributors to Dunedin’s book culture.

For those interested in a brief summary of this year’s research symposium, this Dunedin TV story (http://www.dunedintv.co.nz/news/academics-celebrate-childrens-literature) gives a good short synopsis, stressing the event’s broad appeal and lively discussion. Thanks again to all who participated and made it so interesting and enjoyable.

The Centre for the Book is delighted to have the opportunity to hear from Karol Wilczynska, a senior lecturer in the School of Art and Design at AUT who is visiting Dunedin for a few weeks and producing several works on the Columbian Press in the University’s Otakou Press.  Her illustrated talk, entitled “The Impermanence of the Book: A Designer’s Interpretation through Material Practice,” will take place on Thursday, 29 October at 5:15 pm in Arts 1.W.1.  This is not one of our usual venues; exams has displaced us, but will not stop the availability of nibbles and drinks and great conviviality.If you missed the ODT story on the Art School Exhibition of The News Network, you can read it online here.  We hope you can join us next week for some creative stimulation.

The free public lecture by Julia Marshall, Publisher of Gecko Press, will take place on Thursday, 12 November at 7 pm.  For both catering purposes and to ensure we do not exceed the capacity for the Dunningham Suite, you are kindly asked to book online or by telephone (03 474 3690) or email (library@dcc.govt.nz).  To make a booking online, click here, then scroll to the bottom of the page (the 12th is a busy day at the Libraries), and then click on the “Booking Essential” link.

We look forward to seeing you there.

The 2015 symposium, entitled “A Sense of Wonder: Reading, Writing and Illustrating Children’s Literature,” will take place on Thursday 12 November and Friday 13 November. We kick off with Julia Marshall’s keynote at the Dunedin Public Library on Thursday evening at 7 pm in the Dunningham Suite, followed by a reception. Julia is a Honours graduate of Otago and publisher of Gecko Press, one of NZ’s most innovative children’s publishers.  Academic talks follow on Friday, with a full program of engaging speakers (download confirmed program). Registration is now open: $60 full/ $30 students and seniors (download Registration form), including lunch and morning and afternoon tea. We do hope you’ll be able to join us.

Donald Kerr’s book on Dr. Hocken’s collecting habits has been reviewed in Landfall by Iain Sharp, a very experienced reviewer, and is available online.  As Iain notes, “for the historically minded, trying to keep up with our erudite author is good fun. Rather than a deterrent, Kerr’s profuse helter-skelter learnedness is his greatest strength. It is because he packs every page to overflowing, points to scores of intriguing possibilities for further research and regales us with dozens of entertaining asides that I believe Hocken: Prince of Collectors deserves a far wider readership than the small band of specialists who rejoice in tales of library-based philanthropy.”  Get your copy today!

For those who can make it across the Tasman, Melbourne University will welcome the Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand for its 2015 conference, “Turning the Page: Bibliographical Innovation and the Legacy of Aldus Manutius.” from 25–27 November 2015.  Both Donald (President) and Shef (Editor) will be there, but for a look at the main attractions, see the program and registration details posted on the BSANZ website (http://www.bsanz.org/conferences/).