Collecting Old Bush Poetry Books

Post your images from any Bush Poetry events here.

Please keep the file sizes down to under 150kb. If your greatest image dimension is 600px or under, there will be no problems keeping within the file sizes.
Keeping the LARGEST dimensions at 600px means, if the length is 600px then the width could be the same but preferably less. Conversly, if the width is 600px then the length could be the same but preferably less.
Forum rules
Please keep the file sizes down to under 150kb and the dimensions UNDER 600 X 600px ...
Post Reply
User avatar
Gary Harding
Posts: 651
Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2013 3:26 pm
Location: Hervey Bay, Qld (ex Victorian)
Contact:

Collecting Old Bush Poetry Books

Post by Gary Harding » Thu Sep 08, 2016 7:23 am

Collecting old bush poetry books can be a satisfying and rewarding experience.

Satisfying because at times I find that you can rescue books and other important poetry-author's material from an uncertain fate and occasionally restore them as well. I tend to think that is an important thing for Australian literature and for a (hopefully grateful) future generation of Australians.

Rewarding because if you gain pleasure from reading bush poetry, you can find a great world of entertainment there too.

For example, here are four of my most recent additions.

From a bush poetry perspective, I hope they are of some interest.

1. The Flour Bin. Henry Lawson. 1955. Booklet. Published, signed and inscribed by Walter Stone. One of a limited number of only 100 copies published by Walter Stone to mark the occasion of the Annual Book Collectors' Society dinner. He published his first books using a hand press in a shed in the back yard of his Cremorne home, under the imprint of Talkarra (from the Arrernte word for stone) Press. This is one of those books from that shed and hence is precious as well as charming. In 1956 he established the Wentworth Press.

2. The Warrumbungle Mare and Other Poems. Charles Shaw 1943. Good fun poetry, tightly written. Clearly in the Paterson style and there is nothing wrong with that! Enjoyable.

3. A Bush Idyl. Kenneth Mackay 1888, first edition. A beautifully presented book with very flowery language. Not easily read, but highly collectible as an addition to a bush poetry library. I mean, it is 1888, no cars around and only a few years after they hung old Ned Kelly. Oddly I have another bush poetry book of exactly the same title written by Alfred T. Chandler, 1886 first edition, and it is far more readable.

4. Collected verse of A. B. Paterson. Signed and dated by Banjo Paterson himself. 30th November 1931. This book was previously owned by Banjo's first cousin Nathaniel Barton and it came down to me that way through that branch of the Paterson family. Banjo's signature is rarer than Lawson's.

Just when you think there is nothing else worthwhile around, an intriguing bush poetry book drifts past and you just have to have it. It used to be that if I did not like the poems I would not buy it. Now I am a bit more flexible and see some books for their historical as well as their literary content.

Those old bush poets' voices really seem to speak to you over the years.

If anyone has any interesting books, it would be good to see photos of them here.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

User avatar
Maureen K Clifford
Posts: 8047
Joined: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:31 am
Location: Ipswich - Paul Pisasale country and home of the Ipswich Poetry Feast
Contact:

Re: Collecting Old Bush Poetry Books

Post by Maureen K Clifford » Thu Sep 08, 2016 8:58 am

Keeping the magic alive Gary - Good on you.
Check out The Scribbly Bark Poets blog site here -
http://scribblybarkpoetry.blogspot.com.au/


I may not always succeed in making a difference, but I will go to my grave knowing I at least tried.

User avatar
Gary Harding
Posts: 651
Joined: Sat Oct 12, 2013 3:26 pm
Location: Hervey Bay, Qld (ex Victorian)
Contact:

Re: Collecting Old Bush Poetry Books

Post by Gary Harding » Fri Sep 09, 2016 10:52 am

Here is an inexpensive collectible Lawson item bought from eBay.

Sydney or The Bush

A Henry Lawson Game ! (1971) ... including a record by Shirley Jacobs of Henry's poems. Looks like it was sponsored by Golden Fleece petrol stations and The Australian newspaper. Music also by Ade Monsbourgh

http://www.smh.com.au/news/obituaries/i ... 05914.html

1. To Hannah
2. The Fight at Eureka Stockade
3. The Sliprails and The Spur

Having a natural attraction to owning things offbeat I bought it .. however I have yet to open it. Sometimes it is just the Having that matters ..or perhaps one does not want to disturb something precious?

Is it Obsession that is the final stage of collection I wonder? ...just before they put you in a straitjacket and cart you away! :)
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Post Reply