RARE BOOKS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 119, 22 May 1942, Page 3

RARE BOOKS

TREASURES SOUGHT

FOR CHURCHILL AUCTIONS

Books, manuscripts, letters, prints and Maori relics that may be of interest to collectors are being sought by the authorities to be sold in the Churchill Auctions, the results of which will aid war funds. A start for this collection has been given by the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, who has donated to it a valuable book, "Lives of All the Kings of This Isle," written by Sir Winston Churchill, father of the first Duke of Marlborough, and published in 1675. It was given to Mr. Fraser by the Prime Minister of Creat Britain and contains the signatures of both Mr. Winston Churchill and Mr. Fraser.

It is pointed out that what is wanted are books, manuscripts, prints and relics of special value. An old book, not necessarily valuable in itself, may be of value through its associations —if, for instance, it once belonged to some famous person and bears his name. Even a modern book may have similar value, or be of a limited edition. As an example, a copy of the original subscribers' edition of "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom," by Colonel T. E. Lawrence, is a treasure.

Those organising the collection state that there is a well-recognised market for old New Zealand books, and they appeal for copies of these. They ask people who own old books, old letters and the like, to search through them to see if any may be of some value. A letter from Sir George Grey, or by Alfred Domett, or by any other person who has a notable place in Dominion history would be valuable, it is stated as an example. Maori relics may be of particular value to collectors, and the war funds would benefit as a result.

Mr. Pat Lawlor, who is honoraryorganising secretary of the collection scheme, will visit Auckland on Monday next. The receiving depots for gifts are the provincial patriotic councils and public libraries.