Antiquarian Book News

The first best seller?

The National Library of Wales will be displaying a book which is 350 years old. The work, Micrographia written by Robert Hooke in the 17th century, is thought to be the world’s first scientific best-seller. The book is the first work to have used the term “cell” in relation to the structure of a living object.

The exhibition entitled, ‘The secret workings of nature: Robert Hooke and early science’, will be on display from now until 9 January 2016 opening at 09:30 and closing at 16:30.

Hooke made important discoveries in the fields of physics, astronomy and the study of the measurement of time, horology. He assisted Sir Christopher Wren in rebuilding London after the great Fire of 1666 – the dome on St Paul’s Cathedral is constructed to Hooke’s design. He was, until his death, hailed as England’s answer to Leonardo da Vinci.

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Chip and Win

Viewing will begin in Edinburgh, at Lyon and Turnbull’s main saleroom, on July 12, followed by viewing and auction at the Eden Club – Scotland’s most luxurious private club at Pittormie Castle, near St Andrews on July 15 for one of the earliest books of formal golf rules. The item is expected to fetch up to £50,000.

One of only six books of printed rules Rules of the Thistle Golf Club, written by James Cundell, is part of a lot that is valued at £30,000 to £50,000 and which also includes a rare 1822 ‘Thistle Golf Club’ silver prize medal won by George Logan Esq. It was awarded for the tournament played over Leith Links in Edinburgh held on December 7 1822.

According to the auction house this rare volume was one the most important accomplishments of the Thistle Golf Club. It was published in 1824. The auction is timed to coincide with the 144th Open at St Andrew’s; the auction will have just 37 lots. Owing to the nature of the location the auction will be by ticket only; although interested parties can bid online or by telephone.

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The Lavengro Press

The Lavengro Press was launched in April 2014 by Dr Ann Ridler and Dr Clive Wilkins-Jones as a means of promoting the East Anglian author George Borrow (1803-1881). Born in Dereham, he spent his formative years in Norwich and much of his adult life at Oulton in Suffolk and Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. His main works were The Zincali; or, an Account of the Gypsies of Spain; The Bible in Spain, Lavengro, The Romany Rye, Wild Wales and Romano Lavo-lil: Word-Book of the Romany; or, English Gypsy Language. In Spain his work is still valued for his perceptions of the country in the 1830s at a time of civil war. His Lavengro and its sequel The Romany Rye are a teasing blend of autobiography, travel with Gypsies in England in the 1820s and novelistic fantasy. Wild Wales (1862), is still appreciated in Wales and could be described as a masterpiece of pedestrianism, still inspiring to present-day walkers. His pioneering interest in Gypsies and their dialects was also an inspirational force in the later development of Romani Studies at the end of the 19th century.

Our immediate purpose is to reprint and enhance scarce existing material, much of it only produced for members of the George Borrow Society, which is coming up to its 25th anniversary in 2016. We are also commissioning new material. The aim is to publish three Occasional Papers a year, available by annual subscription at £27.00 + £4.00 postage, or singly at prices varying according to length. The format is B5, generally no longer than 100 pages, paperback, with black and white illustrations, in editions limited to 100 copies.

Borrow’s heyday of popularity lasted especially from the 1890s to the 1920s with some revival of interest in the 1950s and following his centenary in 1981. Those of us who are devotees feel that he has been unjustly neglected and the interest of his work is sadly underestimated. We would particularly like to promote awareness of Borrow in his local area! To this end we are offering a trade discount of 45% on the retail prices indicated below.

Titles now available are:

1. George Borrow’s Journey through Cork in 1815, by Colm Kerrigan. ISBN 978-0-9928463-0-5. (£5.00)
2. George Borrow: Three Fraser Memorial Lectures (1) David Jones and Everyman’s Wild Wales, by Martin Murphy; (2) Gweledigaetheu Uffernol: George Borrow, Goronwy Owen and the Vision of Hell, by Clive Wilkins-Jones; (3) ‘Born to be a great traveller’: Joseph Sell as Borrow’s Imaginary Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, by David Chandler. ISBN 978-0-9928463-1-2. (£10.00)
3. George Borrow in Cornwall 1853-1854 Notebooks and Correspondence, ed. Angus Fraser and Ann M. Ridler. ISBN 978-0-9928463-2-9 (£15.00)
4. George Borrow and Dereham, by Angus Fraser and Ann M. Ridler. ISBN 978-0-9928463-3-6. (£10.00)
5. George Borrow’s Tour of Galloway and the Borders 1866, ed. Angus Fraser. ISBN 978-0-9928463-4-3. (£10.00)

Occasional Paper 6, George Borrow’s Moorish Vocabulary (Tangiers 1839),edited with an introduction and notes by Simon Hopkins, Professor of Arabic at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is due for publication in autumn 2015 (£10.00).

Titles may be ordered direct from Dr Ann Ridler, Editorial Director, The Lavengro Press, 61 Thame Rd, Warborough, Wallingford OX10 7EA; tel. 01865 858379; e-mail info@lavengropress.co.uk.

For further information see our website at www.lavengropress.co.uk.

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Melbourne Rare Book Week

Melbourne Rare Book Week began in 2012 as a partnership between ANZAAB, the University of Melbourne and eight other literary institutions. In 2014, over 40 free events were held at libraries, literary and historical societies and bookshops throughout Melbourne, attracting local, national and international visitors. Melbourne Rare Book Week is now well established in the City of Melbourne’s calendar.

It is a major attraction for book collectors, librarians and all who have a love of words, print on paper and literary heritage. The event this year will be held from July 16-26 culminating in the Book Fair from July 24-26 in the University of Melbourne’s historic Wilson Hall. It coincides with the biennial University of Melbourne Cultural Treasures Festival and the annual Open House Melbourne.

Admission to all events is free.

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