“When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.”

Or do you agree with author and book collector Nicholas Barker, who when asked if he collects books usually replies ‘No, books collect me’?

Join booklovers, bibliophiles and booksellers at Melbourne Rare Book Week (MRBW) from Friday 29 June to Sunday 8 July! Admission to all events is free but bookings are essential for some.

No matter what kind of collector you are, you may want to find out more about some of your ‘treasures’, in the hope that they do not turn out to be ‘trash’. Antiquarian book and print dealers Peter Arnold, Michael O’Brien and Daffyd Davies will offer free appraisals during the Australian & New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Bookseller’s presentation: Rare book appraisals, 12–1.30 pm, Saturday 30 June, Tonic House, 386 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. No bookings required. [Maximum three items per person].

For those who are curious about how others have formed their collections, hear collector/author John Arnold talk about the Fanfrolico Press, and some of the major Australian collectors of Fanfrolicana. Presented by the Private Libraries Association: Fanfrolicana: collecting and collectors, 2.30–4 pm, Saturday 30 June, Tonic House, 386 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.

The established book collector and those just beginning to give in to this passion are bound to benefit from advice from visiting San Franciscan antiquarian bookseller, John Windle, who will inform and entertain during a rare insight into the world of books. The Book Collectors’ Society of Australia (Vic.) presents: The ABC of ABC. Any Body Can (be an) Antiquarian Book Collector, 6–7.30 pm, Wednesday 4 July, Tonic House, 386 Flinders Lane, Melbourne.

John Windle is not only an experienced bookseller but also a world expert on William Blake. The National Gallery of Victoria, owner of some fine William Blake material, has invited John to give a lecture: Discover William Blake, Artist, Poet, Visionary, 6.30–7.30 pm, Tuesday 3 July, NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne.

Some more of this year’s MRBW events [view full program: www.rarebookweek.com]

Tuesday 3 July

Two talks presented by Monash University Library (Monash Conference Centre, 30 Collins Street Melbourne):

• The Australia to come. Exploring nineteenth-century visions of Australia’s future. 2–3 pm
• Sappho of Lesbos and representations of women’s sexuality in Special Collections. 3–4 pm

plus

• Collecting cook books. Presented by The Melbourne Athenaeum Library, 6–7 pm
  
  Wednesday 4 July
• Collecting sporting books. Presented by Melbourne Cricket Club Library, 1–2.30 pm
• Multidisciplinary art making. Prints, paintings, limited edition books and zines by Deborah Klein. Presented by The Melbourne Athenaeum Library, 6–7 pm
• Guests of the Unspeakable. Presented by Genealogical Society of Victoria, 12–1 pm
• The story of J. P. Quaine. Presented by PMI Victorian History Library, 7–8 pm

plus things Gothic

• Dark tales. 6.30-7.30 pm Monday 2 July, North Melbourne Library.
• Dark imaginings. 12-1 pm Tuesday 3 July. Baillieu Library, University of Melbourne.
• Vampires and Victorian eroticism. 6-7.30 pm Tuesday 3 July, City Library.
• Ghastly Gothic reads for kids. 2-3 pm Thursday 5 July, East Melbourne Library.

and for budding book collectors during school holidays

School holiday workshop. Pop-ups and paper mechanics. 10.30 am–12 pm, Monday to Friday 2-6 July, State Library Victoria.

and for those who want to create their own family ‘collectable’

• Make your own rare Life Book. 10–11 am, Thursday 5 July, Mount Waverley Library.

Melbourne Rare Book Week culminates in the Melbourne Rare Book Fair, Friday 6 July to Sunday 8 July, Wilson Hall, University of Melbourne. [www.rarebookfair.com]

Book collecting is a curious mania instantly understood by every other collector and almost incomprehensible to the uncontaminated [Louis Auchincloss]

Link to the printed program: MRBW Program_2018
Visit the website: www.rarebookweek.com

For more information contact Melbourne Rare Book Week Convenor Kay Craddock
Email info@rarebookweek.com Telephone 9654 7530 or 0412 222 289