Exciting New Venture! Sydney Rare Book Auctions

A new Australian auction house founded by Paul Feain, Ellie Aroney and Emily Ingleton

An extraordinary collection of Norman Lindsay books assembled by the artist of the iconic Australian comic strip Ginger Meggs will feature in the first auction of Sydney Rare Books Auctions, a new auction house specializing in rare and fine books, photographs and memorabilia.

James Kemsley, who drew Ginger Meggs for over 25 years, began collecting Norman Lindsay when in his twenties and formed the most comprehensive collection of Norman Lindsay's printed work ever assembled. It contains not only all his important books with etchings but also original unpublished material. Included is a copy of Lindsay's own version of the Rabelais with 23 original pen and ink drawings by Lindsay bound in to the text, and books with original drawings by Lindsay and many signed and limited editions. The collection is also strong in ephemera and exhibition catalogues and will interest all Lindsayiana collectors and lovers of Australian art of that era. Mr. Kemsley passed away in 2007 and the collection has been consigned for auction by his widow.

The auction will also feature a large collection of art books, strong in European and American art, but with a good selection of Australian titles, the property of a retired school teacher from one of Sydney's premier schools. Photography books and bookplates are included among many other lots to be auctioned.

Sydney Rare Book Auctions will schedule auctions throughout the year and the first auction will be held in April at the Sebel, Albion Street, Surrey Hills. Managing director Paul Feain, owner of Cornstalk Bookshop in Glebe and a leading member of Australia's rare book community and General Secretary of ILAB, the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, will conduct the auctions.

Paul and his two fellow directors of Sydney Rare Book Auctions, Ellie Aroney and Emily Ingleton, have between them over 50 years of experience in the rare book trade.

Ellie Aroney is a graduate of the Colorado Rare Book School and has worked in the book trade in Sydney for over 10 years. Ellie has a wealth of international antiquarian bookselling experience having organised the last four Hong Kong Antiquarian Bookfairs as well as running stands at major bookfairs in Europe, America, China as well as Australia.

Emily Ingleton comes from one of the most famous book collecting families in Australia. Her grandfather amassed one of the best Australiana collections ever assembled and her father has been an antiquarian bookseller and publisher for 50 years in America and Japan. Emily has worked in the book trade in Japan, Australia and China.

Sydney Rare Book Auction

Auction 1: April 18th, 2011

The Sebel Surry Hills
28 Albion Street
Surry Hills 2010
AUSTRALIA

The Norman Lindsay collection will be sold as one lot, but there are many other lots for sale too.

>>> Auction Catalogue

>>> Sydney Rare Book Auction

>>> Introducing the Cornstalk Gang