['Barjai', formerly 'The Senior Tabloid']

The Senior Tabloid [later 'Barjai'] [a xerographic facsimile of the complete run of 23 numbers]

[Brisbane, 1978/ 1943 to 1946].

Photocopies of all 23 issues bound in eight volumes (four octavo, two oblong octavo, and two quarto), printed rectos only; some oversized leaves folded.

Contrasting red and black leather, with the black strip along the leading edge of each volume lettered and tooled in gilt; covers lightly rubbed, bumped and marked; short tears to the edges of a few of the oversized leaves; overall, in excellent condition.

A unique xerographic facsimile of this scarce journal, in a handsome binding apparently commissioned for presentation to Barrett (Barrie) Reid, editor of the journal for much of its short run. Reid's copies of 'Barjai' had been lost when his house was destroyed by a bushfire in 1978, and friends had this run produced and bound from originals in the Oxley Library, Brisbane.

'In 1943, Barrett Reid and Laurence Collinson were completing their high school education at Brisbane State High School, South Brisbane. Concerned that Australia's youth were not adequately represented by contemporary literary magazines, they founded the "Senior Tabloid". Five issues later, the name was changed to "Barjai", a magazine offering a publishing opportunity exclusively to writers under the age of twenty-one. Initially a small, type-written publication, "Barjai" was professionally printed from 1944, going through several changes of size in its short life.

Reid and Collinson attracted an enthusiastic group of young writers to "Barjai", organising regular meetings at the Lyceum Club where guest speakers such as Judith Wright, Tom Inglis Moore and Paul Grano were heard. At these meetings members were also given the opportunity to read and discuss their own work. To encourage new work, writing competitions were conducted, employing judges such as C.B. Christesen and Rex Ingamells.

In addition to Reid and Collinson, other contributors to "Barjai" included Grace Perry, Thea Astley, Cecel Knopke, Barbara Patterson and Mary Wilkinson. The age of each contributor was clearly displayed and the range of ages often appeared in editorial comment. An idea of the poetic influences on this group of young writers is revealed in the poll conducted to find the most popular poets of their subscribers. The top three were Christopher Brennan, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Robert Browning. The only other Australian writers included among a large group of English poets were Rex Ingamells and John Shaw Neilson. But, despite the popularity of poets who employed traditional forms, "Barjai" welcomed and encouraged experimentation.

By 1946, the energy of the "Barjai" group was beginning to weaken. Laurence Collinson had moved to Sydney and others had left for teaching posts outside of Brisbane. In addition, "Barjai" experienced fiscal difficulties when the long-term financial support of the medical practitioner and patron of the arts Dr J.V. Duhig was withdrawn after he experienced tax problems. Unable to afford production costs, the editors reverted to a less expensive broadsheet format for the twenty-third number. But after failing to pay the printer for this number "Barjai" faltered, winding up production in 1947' (AustLit). [8 items].

Item #122439

Price (AUD): $450.00
other currencies