Australian Library of Art showcase

The Australian Library of Art showcase on level 4 provides an opportunity to discover and explore the collections of the Australian Library of Art, and learn how these collections document fine book arts in Australia and around the world.

Current display: Down the Rabbit Hole

The Australian Library of Art showcase displays rare items curated from State Library's collections.

Our current display focusses on fantasy literature, nonsense and fairytales.

There was a curious preoccupation with fairies in the Victorian era. Amidst an upsurge in fantasy literature, the Victorians also produced some of the best nonsense verse in the English language and one of the greatest fantasy novels, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Come along to take a peek at the works on display. They include In Fairyland, with Richard Doyle’s colour-drenched illustrations of the elfin world, Andrew Sibley’s luminous handmade book The Owl and the Pussycat, and the spectacular Pennyroyal Press edition of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The Pennyroyal Alice, published in 1982, is accompanied by a set of Barry Moser’s rather menacing wood engravings.

Free Curator's Tours are held monthly. Join one of our specialist librarians to discover the hidden gems of the Australian Library of Art collections.

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Lewis Carroll's The March Hare, 1982. Barry Moser. History and Art of the Book Collection, State Library of Queensland. RBL 070.59309744 PEN 1982.

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Artists' Book Collection

Artists' books are artworks that use the form or the concept of the book.

The History and the Art of the Book Collection

The History and Art of the Book showcases and preserves rare and fine books reflecting the art, craft, history and impact of the printed book.

Mr Pat Corrigan AM presenting Lindsay family letters and correspondence to the State Library of Queensland, Queensland Club, 7 October 1997. Premier of Queensland, Rob Borbidge and Deputy Premier Joan Sheldon accepted the gift which was one of the largest donations presented to an Australian library by an individual at the time.

The Lindsay Collection of Pat Corrigan

This collection relates to the Lindsay family of artists and writers.

The Australian Art Research Collection

The focus is on exhibition quality items providing exceptional examples of the book as objects.