Rare books and illuminated manuscripts | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Rare books and illuminated manuscripts

Showing 25 - 29 of 29 results
The Birds of Australia Gould - Printed plate
Conserving John Gould’s Australian Bird Pattern Plates

Learn about the treatment work our conservators have recently done on thepattern plates for the supplement to The Birds of Australia by John Gould.

Blog
Print of two women in dresses holding hands. One has a trumpet in her other hands and is leaning over a sign reading 'Free Masons Hall Readings & Music'. Photoshopped on top is a teal circle with text reading 'Friends Event'

John Thornthwaite and Mather Brown, Ticket for an Evening of ‘Readings & Music’ Held at Free Masons Hall, c. 1790, from the Papers of Jamie and Michael Kassler, 1790-2021, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn5977647

Coffee with the Curator: The Excellencies of Musick

Dr Susannah Helman provided her insights into the Jamie and Michael Kassler Collection.

Event
Close up of page of old, rare Latin book with a stylised letter A in the top left

Clifford family, Latin Chertsey Cartulary, England, c, 1301, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-241375708

Clifford Collection

Over 10,000 volumes and 1500 pamphlets in English, Latin, French, Italian, German and Spanish, with particular strength in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Collection guide
Uncredited artist Glycine Rubicunda Dingy-Flowered Glycine Diadelphia Decandria Kennedia Rubicunda, Dusky Coral Pea, No 268, July 1 1794

Uncredited artist, Glycine Rubicunda. Dingy-Flowered Glycine: Diadelphia Decandria [Kennedia Rubicunda, Dusky Coral Pea], No. 268, July 1 1794

Australian flowers in print

Dive into two of the earliest English publications to feature Australian flowers and the stunning images they contain.

Blog
Collection guide
Alston Collection

The Alston Collection is a treasure trove of over 1,800 works on philology and linguistics. From rare books and manuscripts to Robin Alston’s personal drafts and correspondence, this collection is a must for anyone exploring the history of language and early bibliographical studies.

Collection guide

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