John Kauffmann (1864-1942) was born in the small village of Truro in country South Australia; he became an internationally recognized pioneering photo-impressionist by the first decade of the twentieth century. His images were awarded medals at major competitions, but, perhaps more significantly, they were sold for high prices at a series of one-man exhibitions in Melbourne and Sydney. His trademark was soft focus — think sombre moods and misty aspects. His work fell out of favour in the last two decades of his life, but his creativity continued to evolve. In the early 1930s, he produced a series of 'portraits of living flowers', some of which must be numbered among his best work.

This retrospective, containing 40 images and other material from the artist's estate, includes vintage prints from all periods of his long working life. All items are for sale, and this exhibition represents a unique opportunity to purchase important artworks with impeccable provenance.

Exhibition 16–28 February 2018
10am–5pm, Monday to Saturday
196 North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia

Our current catalogue contains a number of rarities from a collection we helped build some forty years ago – ouch! That small yelp is for a couple of reasons – where did all those years go? – and another fine collection is being dismantled. But there is more than a degree of satisfaction to be had from what we have coined the ‘pre-deceased estate sale’. Admittedly, it is a different form of satisfaction to that of acquisition and custody, but there is a lot to be said for overseeing the orderly dispersal of a significant aspect of one’s personal life in a considered and professional manner (to say nothing of the capital gains!).

Accordingly, for your delectation, we have eight rare works on Australian cycling and motoring, by the likes of Birtles, Dutton, Murif and Pearson. This does not include five titles by Michael Terry, which we mention in the company of other inland explorers and expeditions: Cadell, the Calvert Expedition, the Horn Expedition, Lindsay, and Winnecke (including a signed book).

Literature is well-represented, with sixteen Brindabella Press-related publications, half a dozen Angry Penguin items, a signed Arthur Rackham (Undine), and the very rare Edwardian illustrated Australian children’s book, Some Childrens' [sic] Songs by Marion Alsop & Dorothy McCrae.

There are rare and important vintage photographs by Frank Hurley, John Kauffmann, and May Moore, to go with, as usual, our unusual miscellany of items that are either unique, quirky, ephemeral or merely worth reading. We wish you profitable browsing!

Exploration on land, sea and ice is just one strength of our current list. Oxley, Mitchell, Parkinson, Mawson (a signed book) and Shackleton (an autograph letter signed) find themselves in the company of some serious military history. Limb's History of the 10th Battalion has impeccable provenance: a signed presentation inscription from the first Commanding Officer, Price Weir, to the second, Beevor.

Other rarities include desirable ephemera - such as Light Horse Regiment reunion menus, or the souvenir ticket from the first train trip across the Sydney Harbour Bridge - and some vernacular photography at its best (Maori cartes de visite, a striking portrait of an Aboriginal lad, an Afghan or Indian butcher in the Adelaide Hills). At the very least, it makes entertaining reading!

Impressive in both their very large format and impeccable provenance are two vintage photographs by Frank Hurley of Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914, from the personal collection of Sir Douglas Mawson himself.

Also on offer are Sir John William Downer's copies of the elaborate commemorative rolls from both the 1891 and 1897 Federation Conventions, signed by all the delegates (a Who's Who of Australian political history). Downer was one of only sixteen delegates to attend both conventions.

A fine selection of the acclaimed colour-plate books of George French Angas is available, including South Australia Illustrated (1847), The Kafirs Illustrated (1849), and Description of the Barossa Range (1849).

Other impressive illustrated books include limited editions signed by Edmund Dulac, Thomas Mackenzie, Arthur Rackham, Charles Robinson, and W. Heath Robinson. An eclectic range of manuscripts, photographs and maps rounds out the catalogue.

To view these items (and much else!) visit us at Stand 19 at the Melbourne Rare Book Fair, at Wilson Hall, University of Melbourne, 22-24 July 2016. For more details go to www.rarebookfair.com