AUCKLAND'S GOOD FORTUNE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 185, 23 December 1912, Page 4

AUCKLAND'S GOOD FORTUNE.

The collection of books which has been presented to the city of Auckland by Mr. Henry Shaw, of Ponsonby, is of very great value and interest. It includes some fine copies of important fifteenth century works, notable specimens being the Edition Princeps of St. Augustine's "City of God," printed in 1467, and St. Jerome's Epistles, 14.86, Then there is the famous Chronicle of Vincentius Bellovacensis in three large folio volumes, with 'the initial letters illuminated in gold and colors, printed at the Monastery of St. Ulrich and St. Afra, Augsburg, in 1474. When describing the collection to the Auckland City Council recently, the Mayor (Mr. C. 'j. Parr) mentioned that one of the interesting volumes was a copy of the great Bible printed at Strassburg in 1479 by Adolf Rusch. This had a double commentary, and was in four big folio volumes, the bindings 'being the original oak boards covered with pigskin. Amongst the manuscripts was a Bible in folio of the end of the twelfth century. That was a rare item, and Mr. T. W. Leys, who was an authority on books, had informed Mr. Parr that it was the oldest copy of the Scriptures in New Zealand, and, probably, in Australasia. The collection included one of the original proclamations appointing Oliver Cromwell to the office of Lord Protector and some valu"lt is impossible to detail all the rareties, or a tithe of them," added the Mayor, ,f but it may be said that they are such as are only to be found in the great libraries of the world. The gift, in combination with the Crey library, will make a collection such as no other city in the Dominion can ever hope to attain." Mr. Shaw, who is a member of the Auckland City Council, has added his name to the long list of citizens who have made generous gifts to the northern citv.