Rare Books and Special Collections

Carte topographique de l’Egypte is the biggest item in the Library's Rare Books collection. The three volumes measure 112 cm x 70 cm and weigh over 22 kilos each. The volumes are a part of the immense 23 volume set of Description de l'Égypte ; ou, Recueil de observations et des recherches qui ont été faites en Égypte pendant l'éxpédition de l'armée française that covers the geology, geography, flora, fauna, antiquity and contemporary society of Egypt in the late 18th century to the early 19th century. They were published at the insistence of Napoleon from 1809 to 1828.

Description de l'Égypte
State Library of NSW: RB/ BX932A/ 38 - 58

Carte topographique de l’Egypte
State Library of NSW: SAFE/RB/BX932A/ 58 - 60

The library holds a limited edition of Andy Warhol's Interview. Volume 1, Best of the first decade 1969- 1979 in the Rare Books collection. It's uniquely housed in a special wooden trolley with a retractable handle. Andy Warhol founded the magazine, Interview, in 1969 with British journalist, John Wilcock.

The oldest item in the Library is a clay tablet. It was donated in 1940 by Mr J Yared. The inscription is in Sumerian and dates to the reign of Sîn-kašid (c1860 BCE) who ruled the city of Uruk, located in the south of modern-day Iraq.

It is one of the many tablets bearing similar inscriptions that have been recovered from the foundations of Sîn-kašid’s palace at Uruk. They were placed in every fourth course of bricks during construction, ensuring that when the mud-brick palace needed future renovation, Sîn-kašid’s name and deeds would be admired by his successors. The Sumerian inscription records the king’s name, titles and epithets, stating that he built a royal palace.