Mirror of the World

Editorial

Before the development book, text was inscribed on clay tablets or scrolls of papyrus. It was not until the dark ages (fifth to tenth centuries) that the first manuscripts were produced. These were handwritten and composed of folded sheets made from parched animal skin sewn along one edge and bound between boards. The library houses several rare editions of manuscripts from around Europe, many of these lavishly illustrated.

A number of printed manuscripts dating from the 15 century are also on display, including a page from the first book printed by moveable type. Individual letters were cast in metal and assembled to form a page of text, a process which in turn gave rise to the printing press.

The rise of encyclopedias, dictionaries and new religions coincided with key moments in the history of book production, as did the move from an oral to a written culture and the mass production of books following the industrial revolution. These transformations are brought to life with a series of magnificently preserved early editions of books ranging from biblical texts, to timeless works by authors including Homer, Virgil and Chaucer.

The display progresses through early travel books and maps, texts which shaped the history of ideas including Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud, to the era of Beat Literature, Pulp Fiction and The Graphic Novels (comics) of the 1950's.

This is a beautiful and unique collection which provides a logical insight into key moments of printing and book production, and is a rare opportunity not to be missed. This is a permanent exhibition at the State Library.

Fiona O'Brien, Citysearch