From Dante to Austen: rare, sacred and iconic books uncovered in new exhibition

Bibliophiles can feast their eyes on more than 300 of the state’s rarest books when State Library Victoria unveils Australia’s largest exhibition dedicated to books, World of the book: 2022 at 10am today.

The free exhibition showcases sacred and iconic works dating from c. 2000 BCE to the present day, most of which have never been seen before. Historical wonders sit alongside more modern works, with the Library’s oldest item on display along with some of its newest acquisitions.

Senior Librarian History of the Book and Arts and World of the book 2022: the rare, the sacred and the iconic co-curator Dr Anna Welch says she is delighted to share so many gems with the public.

“State Library Victoria has one of the best rare book collections in Australia – it's a cultural treasure. We’re thrilled to be able to share these works with the people of Victoria – who ultimately own the collection,” Dr Welch said.

“This exhibition explores the special place of books in our lives and encourages engagement with ideas and artistry from 4000 years of human history. From Dante to Jane Austen and Melbourne’s own Shaun Tan, there really is something for everyone.”

Fiction afficionados will find joy in a nineteenth century boxed set of Jane Austen’s novels; a collection of first edition novels by Margaret Atwood; Jack Kerouac’s works that reveal unexpected links to Heide’s artists and Little Lonsdale’s Moat Café; and a selection of work by Melbourne-based author and artist, Shaun Tan including some newly acquired sculptures.

Culture fiends can see never-exhibited-before works linked to some of the world’s most significant names including Dr Martin Luther King, Bob Dylan and Slyvia Plath; design lovers can dive into Owen Jones and the influence of Islamic design and history buffs can marvel at medieval manuscripts drawn from the largest public collection of its kind in Australia.

The theologically-minded meanwhile may relish the chance to see rarities such as the Dala ‘il al Khairat (Prayers for the Prophet Muhammad) from the internationally notable Michael Abbott Collection of South-East Asian manuscripts, and Kabbalistic books from the David Hailperin Collection about Jewish mysticism.

Perhaps most excitingly however, the exhibition celebrates Dante, author of The Divine Comedy, in a special ‘mini-exhibition’ within the exhibition, just four months after the world commemorated 700 years since the poet’s death.

Dr Welch says Dante’s ongoing significance in world culture cannot be overstated.

“Generations of artists from Sandro Botticelli in the fifteenth century to Tom Phillips in the twentieth century have been inspired to create their own interpretations of the vivid imagery conjured by Dante’s words, just as poets have continued to translate the cantos anew and to write new works inspired by this fourteenth-century masterpiece.

“We could not be more excited to celebrate his cultural impact through this exhibition,” she said.

The display will feature a new major acquisition – Tom Phillips’ Inferno (1983), often described as one of the most significant artist’s books of the twentieth century. This acquisition was made with the support of two donors: Chris Arnold AM and Margot Costanzo and with this exhibition in mind.

It will sit alongside an engraved print by William Blake, on loan from the National Gallery of Victoria, a private press edition of Dante's works on loan from the University of Melbourne and other artistic responses to Dante’s iconic poem, from the early sixteenth century to today.

World of the book has five themes: Books & Ideas, Books & Imagination, Exploring the World, Art & Nature, and Artists & Books.

The exhibition has been running since 2005 (prior to 2017, it was known as Mirror of the World: Books & Ideas) and each year attracts around 500,000 visitors, making it the longest running and most popular book exhibition in Australia.

This is the 16th iteration of the exhibition, which is completely refreshed each year with a brand-new display of highlights from the Library’s Rare Books Collection.

To see World of the book, head to Dome Galleries, Level 5, The Dome at State Library Victoria or take a virtual tour online.

For more information go to slv.vic.gov.au/world-of-the-book

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