Following a period of uncertainty the Printing Industries Association of Australia’s archive of rare books – including a two-volume facsimile of Gutenberg’s 42-line Bible from 1455 – are being catalogued, graded and valued by James Cryer and Andy McCourt. Most of the rare books were acquired from Victor Alberts of Standard Publishing renown, who is now well into his seventies.
Cryer and McCourt were welcomed into the Help Street, Chatswood offices by new CEO Andrew Macaulay.
“This is stage one of probably a three-stage process,” said McCourt, a collector of rare books charting the history of print. “We initially need to list and number what is here, with brief descriptions. The collection is incomplete, we know that much from former PIAA Marketing Manager Joe Kowaleski who has been very helpful, and the LIA who kindly took care of around 40 volumes; so stage two is to catalogue those when they arrive. Stage three will be the grading of condition and final complete listing, with insurance valuations. The Association will then decide how to best store, display or share these wonderful books.”
Already some surprises have emerged. One book, an original 1710 copy of The Tryall of Dr Henry Sacheverell for High Crimes, was found to be the first book ever to be tested for copyright under Queen Anne’s Statute of Copyright, also 1710. Another, Baskerville’s New Testament in Ancient Greek 1763 is regarded as the most accomplished typography and presentation ever for the Scriptures. The Gutenberg Bible facsimile, even though recent at 1985, is a masterpiece of craftsmanship where even the 100% linen rag paper was manufactured to match Gutenberg’s pages.
Cryer was delighted to find some attendance records, minutes and correspondence archives from the earliest meetings of the Master Printers Association, featuring his great-grandfather and partner, who formed Gibbs, Cryer & Co, which started business in 1903. “The PIAA’s own records are priceless to any researcher or historian. They give far more insight into Australian life than just from a printing perspective. For example, the wartime correspondence reflected the rationing of paper, with requests made to the Ministry of Supply for the importation of various stock for specific projects. From a personal point of view, I am grateful to Andrew Macaulay and the new PIAA Board for lifting the ridiculous ban and enabling me to see some very important records relating to my family’s four generations in Australian printing.”
McCourt adds: “The earliest book catalogued so far is a 1522 edition of the comedies written by the third century Roman playwrite Plautus, a big influence on Shakespeare for his own comedies. This volume was printed by none other than Aldus’ Aldine Press in Venice. It gets better, there is a framed bifolium spread from the original 1493 Nuremberg Chronicle – four pages front and back in all, beautifully illuminated. Vic Alberts should be congratulated on his knowledge of and taste in print antiquity and this collection must be preserved.”
Cryer and McCourt are due to complete the task now that the additional volumes, so carefully taken care of by Angus Scott at the LIA, have arrived at PIAA offices.