Wednesday 05 June 2024: Ramsay Scholars, who explore ‘the best that has been thought and said’ in their study of the Great Books of the Western Canon, considered a more material dimension to the timelessness of these works last week, as they viewed rare centuries-old editions at the State Library of NSW.
University of Queensland Western Civilisation academic, Dr Jennifer Clement, a senior lecturer in English Literature, organised the ‘rare books’ viewing opportunity and afternoon of related discussions for NSW-based Ramsay Scholars from the Australian Catholic University (ACU) and the University of Wollongong (UOW).
The excursion was made possible thanks to the generosity and expertise of rare books specialists at the State Library of NSW who curated a special display of centuries-old editions of great works and works that either related to them or that had been used as source documents.
On display, among others, were rare editions of Book 15 of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, The Canterbury Tales, Plutarch’s Life by Thomas North, a first edition of The Geneva Bible, an 18th century book Shakespeare Illustrated by Charlotte Lennox, and the 1616 first edition of The Workes of Benjamin Jonson.
A copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio, famously held by the State Library, was not able to be shown due to its need to be ‘rested’ after increased exposure to light in last year’s celebrations for the Folio’s 400th anniversary.
A rare books enthusiast, Dr Clement opened the afternoon with a discussion on distinct characteristics of old books and an explanation of how they were made. She described the type set by hand, and the durable paper made of linen rice that was sewn to the bindings, also by hand.
Dr Clement encouraged the scholars to appreciate imperfection in old books that revealed more closely their construction; and to look for scribbles and markings, as well as wear and tear; reminders that ‘somebody held this book in their hands a long time ago’ and pondered its meaning just as we would today.
State Library of NSW Head of Collection, Acquisition and Curation Maggie Patton relayed to the students the history of the library’s rare books, including its impressive Shakespeare and bible collections. The library houses more than 5000 volumes of Shakespeare, now too big a collection to be housed as it was originally, in the library’s ‘Shakespeare Room’. The Shakespeare collection began with the donation of the first Folio and was built upon during the 300th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.
The library’s extensive bible collection was amassed due to numerous donations by a couple who believed there was a family connection to John Rogers, the first martyr of Queen Mary’s reign, who illegally printed a bible edition in English and was burnt at the stake in 1555.
Further presentations that afternoon included a talk by UOW Western Civilisation lecturer Dr Julian Lamb who examined a poem by Shakespeare’s great contemporary, English poet Edmund Spenser, called To His Booke. Dr Lamb looked at Spenser’s disposition in the poem and what it might reveal about how a writer several centuries ago might feel on seeing his work in print for the first time.
Finally, ACU Western Civilisation senior lecturer Dr Kishore Saval led a student panel discussion on ‘what it means to encounter a book’ with ACU Ramsay Scholars Daniella Blismas, Fletcher Shumack and Ainara Reyes. Dr Saval and the scholars examined Canto 5 of Dante’s Inferno as part of the discussion.
Reflecting on the afternoon panellist Fletcher Shumack said it was “…a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow Ramsay Scholars, from Wollongong and Queensland, while engaging with the works of several significant authors, including Shakespeare and Dante.”
“We learned about how different editions of books have been fashioned in the past, how they have been received by the public, and how we continue to preserve them through institutions like the State Library. Most importantly, we opened up the question of what it means to engage with a text at all: where does the text end, and the reader begin? Perhaps I’m still not quite sure myself!”
Media contact: Sarah Switzer 0407 816 098 / sarah.switzer@ramsaycentre.org