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12th ALIA National Library Technicians Conference
The Ken Pound Collection: A rare treasure of children's booksMary Azzarito, Current Monographs Cataloguing Team and library technician VPS2, State Library of VictoriaAbstractIn 1994 the State Library of Victoria was offered first option to purchase a private collection of approximately 29 000 volumes of Australian children's books dating from the late 19th to mid 20th century. The collection consists of both fiction and non-fiction items. Approximately one-third of the collection is made up of variant copies, issues or reprint editions. The collection had been brought together over 30 years by collector Ken Pound. His aim was to acquire every edition and reprint of all Australian children books. It includes many titles and editions not held in every Australian public institution. Many of the volumes are in their original dustjackets. A particular strength of the collection is the huge range of cheaply produced popular works and ephemeral material such as posters, card sets, sticker books and colouring books. The State Library of Victoria was provided with funding which enabled the Library to acquire and catalogue this major collection and thereby making it available for reference and research purposes. This private collection has been described as the largest and most comprehensive of Australian children's literature collection ever seen. No other library in Australia has a collection that can compare with it. The Pound collection has been catalogued with many titles requiring complex copy-specific notes. These items are housed in the Rare Books library in Dewey order. A consultant bibliographer was employed on a part-time basis to do the initial descriptive cataloguing, paying particular attention to the variant editions, reprints and impressions of each item. Over several years, librarians and library technicians have completed the cataloguing of these items. With the use of a Powerpoint presentation, I will explore further on how the State Library of Victoria came to acquire this collection, its historical importance and significance, how it is housed, show examples of bibliographic records with copy-specific notes and examples of the Pound items. IntroductionMarcie Muir, a leading expert in Australian children's writing and the compiler of Australian children's books : A bibliography - described the Ken Pound collection in the following way: 'Ken's collection was unique in every way, and I believe that noone could have failed to be amazed by it on first impact.' 'I know of nowhere else where up to seven or eight copies of the one book ... can be seen side by side.' Muir was extremely impressed by this large and comprehensive collection. A collection of this kind is of immense value to the bibliographer and also the literary historian because you are able to see together and compare the different impressions and editions. Its importance spreads far beyond the immediate subject of Australian children's books, it encompasses the whole history of publishing in Australia. BackgroundThe Ken Pound collection was a private collection of Australian children's books dating from the late 19th century to mid 20th century. This collection which numbers over 30 000 volumes, includes both fiction and non-fiction items. The collection had been brought together over thirty years by collector Ken Pound whose aim was to acquire every edition and reprint of all Australian children books. It includes many titles and editions not held in any Australian public institution. Many of the volumes are in their original dustjackets. A particular strength of the collection is the huge range of cheaply produced popular works and ephemeral material such as posters, card sets, sticker books and colouring books. The collection also contains approximately 1000 New Zealand published books, some serials and a small collection of non-Australian works including English children's classics, picture books and reference works. Ken Pound lived in a men's refuge in suburban Fitzroy, Victoria, where he was the caretaker. His collection was housed in crammed conditions in the loft of a converted church. The books were placed on bookshelves and in boxes. In 1992 Ken Pound contacted a number of tertiary institutions in Melbourne about selling his collection of children's books but he had two stipulations:
Tertiary institutions were not interested in purchasing the whole collection. Book dealers would buy the whole collection, but then they would want to sell the books individually. It was suggested that he contact the State Library of Victoria, who was definitely interested in purchasing the collection, but did not have the finances to purchase a collection of this size. Funding proposalA funding proposal was prepared by the State Library of Victoria and put forward in 1994 to obtain funds from the Victorian government. The Library was successful with its submission and funds were provided from the Community Support Fund established by the Kennett Government in the early 1990's from gambling income. The grant from the Community Support Fund covered the purchase of the Ken Pound collection and provided the Library to employ two new staff members to catalogue the items. An independent valuation of the collection was $200 000. This significant acquisition received widespread favorable publicity through the news and print media. Children's literature research collectionThe State Library of Victoria holds three collections of children's literature. The first collection is the rare children's book collection of Australian and overseas material. Margaret Ingham established the second collection in 1976. She was the Children's Literature Research Librarian between 1976-1980 in the State Library of Victoria and the third collection is the Ken Pound collection acquired in 1994. The collections combined number approximately 80,000 volumes of Australian and overseas children's books from 16th to 21st centuries. The strength of the CLRC lies in its comprehensive collection of early Australian and contemporary imprints in fiction, picture books, folktales, myths and legends and anthologies of poetry. Together the collections provide a historical perspective to the social trends in publishing for children. The Ken Pound collection meets the selection criteria of the State Library of Victoria's Collection Development Policy:
Ken Pound did not limit his collecting to one copy of a title or to one copy of each edition. He was a fastidious and tireless collector, always seeking out and selecting the best copy available. Whenever he found a difference between two copies, no matter how trivial, he would add both to the collection. Some of these differences are difficult to detect. Some of the differences uncovered are:
No matter how small the difference, a purchase of the item was always made. This is what makes this collection a comprehensive collection in children's literature. Cataloguing processWhen the cataloguing process of the Ken Pound collection commenced in 1995, the library employed a consultant bibliographer, Terence O'Neill on a part-time basis. Terence did the initial descriptive cataloguing for the older books of the collection. He paid particular attention to identifying variant editions, reprints and impressions of each item. A cataloguing worksheet was set up and the identified fields were annotated on the worksheet. Over the six years duration of the Ken Pound project, several librarians and library technicians have worked on the project. As the library technician for the last three years of the project, I was responsible for the accessioning, cataloguing - both original and copy and end processing of each item of the collection. Uncatalogued items were first searched on Dynix - the in-house computer catalogue of the State Library of Victoria. If the book in hand matched the bibliographic details on the catalogue, the item holding was added. If no bibliographic record was found on the catalogue, a search was made on the Australian Bibliographic Database (ABN). If the bibliographic details matched, SLV holdings were added. If an incomplete bibliographic record was found, the record would be upgraded and SLV holdings added. If no bibliographic record were found, then the book in hand would be originally catalogued on ABN and SLV holdings added. Bibliographic records from ABN would be downline loaded to the Dynix catalogue. A unique call number would be added to the item. The main difficulty encountered when describing the books was the lack of publication dates for the items. This occurred for those items mainly published in the late 1800's to early 1900's. When the publication date was not readily available, I constantly consulted Marcie Muir's Australian children's books : A bibliography. In more cases than not, a reference was found for the book in hand. Other bibliographies checked were:
A wealth of information was also found in the book in hand by looking out for:
The 590 MARC tag or copy specific note was added to the State Library of Victoria's bibliographic record for those items with variant reprints or impressions of the one title. This 'in-house' note is only seen on the local system. The copy specific notes range from simple to quite complex information notes. Some examples are:
With the end processing of the items, an acid free slip was added which contained the call number label of the item and its barcode. On the end paper of the book, the State Library accession stamp was added with KP (Ken Pound) as its source and the call number written in pencil. No book number labels were added to the spine or cover of the books. The majority of the books were received in good condition, but some books needed to have conservation treatment. This included having an acid free box made to size to house the item or placing the item in a plastic satchel with a corex sheet backing to give it extra support. As the books were catalogued, they were housed in the Rare Books Library in Dewey order. Research interestThere is a growing interest in the community in what young Australians read in the early 1900's as they were growing up, and how this shaped their lives and attitudes and helped create their Australian identity. The State Library of Victoria has been acknowledged as a centre of excellence for the study and research into Australian writing and publishing for children's literature. Post-graduate students, teachers and academics keenly use this collection for research purposes. The collection has also been featured in a number of the library's lectures and exhibitions. Researchers range from academics, students of major tertiary institutions to collectors. Their subject interests range from traditional indigenous stories, racist themes, for example how the Aborigines and the Chinese in the late 19th century and early 20th century were treated and the way that Australian native animals were drawn. The collectors' interest would be in seeking out how fairies were illustrated or having a particular interest and passion for an illustrator. ConclusionThe acquisition of the Ken Pound collection, which is a large and comprehensive 20th century collection of Australian children's literature, has enriched the library's collection. Through acquiring and cataloguing this significant heritage collection, the library is providing access to all Victorians now and for the future. Highlights of the Ken Pound treasures housed in the State Library of VictoriaThe Ken Pound treasures housed in the Rare Books Library number approximately 30,000 items. The collection occupies eleven rows of bays, six shelves high by six bays across. Notable authorsThe collection has several notable early Australian writers - Lillian Turner, Jean Curlewis, Louise Mack, Constance Macness, Lillian Pyke, but is particularly strong with works by Mary Grant Bruce and Ethel Turner. Mary Grant Bruce Mary Grant Bruce is well remembered for the writings of the 'Billabong' books. Her first book A little bush maid appeared in print in 1910 to Billabong riders in 1942. There were fifteen Billabong books. Bruce created the 'Billabong'. It is a sheep station located somewhere in northern Victoria. In her first Billabong book we are introduced to the characters that appear in the following fourteen books which follow. The Billabong series traces the lives of the Linton family. Station owner David Linton, his son Jim and daughter Norah and Jim's friend Wally. Ethel Turner In 1894 Ward, Lock and Bowden published Ethel Turner's first novel Seven little Australians. Seven little Australians was set in suburban Sydney. It told the story of the Woolcot family - Captain Woolcot, his new second wife and their children. They live near the Paramatta River in a house which they called 'Misrule'. The story tells of the escapades of the children, the adolescent love affairs of Meg and the accidental death of Judy, who dies saving her half-brother. Long running titlesSeven little Australians by Ethel Turner: The 95 books occupy four shelves. Ward, Lock and Bowden published the first edition, a hardback in 1894 in London. It has 240 pages. The first dustjacket in the collection is for the 1926 edition. The first paperback edition was published in 1973 and has 192 pages. Some other examples by Ethel Turner are - Little larrickin - 51 books published from 1896 to 1978, occupying two shelves. Miss Bobbie - 62 books published from 1897 to 1978, occupying two and a half shelves and Little Mother Meg - 34 books published from 1902 to 1955. They occupy nearly 2 shelves. Two long running titles by Mary Grant Bruce are Back to Billabong - 42 books published from 1921 to 1977, occupying two shelves and A little bush maid - 69 books published from 1910 to 1982. They occupy nearly three shelves. Coral Island by Robert Michael Ballantyne: This title occupies four shelves and has 121 books. T. Nelson published the first edition in 1876 in London with 438 pages. The first dustjacket in the collection appeared in 1932. Purnell Books published the last edition in the collection in London in 1984 and it has 192 pages. John Mystery booksKen Pound also collected 93 titles of the John Mystery publications. These were cheaply produced paperbacks published in Sydney from the late 1930's to the 1940's. The books were printed on poor quality or even yellow paper. There are illustrations throughout in black and white and colour. The front covers always had an illustrated coloured wraparound. Several stories were published in each issue. All stories were original with an Australian context. John Mystery books were extremely popular during the War. They were distributed mainly through the major department stores. A 'Dear Cobber' letter appeared on the inside of the back cover in some issues. John Mystery wrote to his readers, often commenting on the progress of the war and encouraged his young readers to write to him. Marcie Muir correctly identified John Mystery as Lester Sinclair. Lester Basil Sinclair was born in Yorkshire in 1894. He came to Australia as a teenager from New Zealand. The State Library of Victoria subsequently acquired the Sinclair family archive dealing with John Mystery. First editionsFour first editions from the collection are Mollie's bunyip by Annie R. Rentoul, Mollie's staircase by Annie I. Rentoul and I.S. Rentoul, Wattle babies and Mr. and Mrs. Bear and friends, both by May Gibbs. Robert Jolley published Mollie's bunyip in Melbourne in 1904. It was written by Annie R. Rentoul sister to Ida Sherbourne Rentoul, later better known as Ida Rentoul Outhwaite. This was Ida's first illustrated book and was published when she was sixteen years old. The book is unpaged and reproduced in a hand-written text. The illustrations are in black and white with several sepia illustrations. A check on Kinetica shows that one other library holds this book. Ida's mother Annie wrote Mollie's staircase, published in Melbourne by M.L. Hutchinson in 1906. This is Ida's second illustrated book. Ken Pound wrote a note to this effect. He also made a note on the title page that this copy is 'very scarce'. The book has black and white sketches. The front covers are parchment papers, tied with ribbon in the centre. A check on Kinetica shows that no other library holds this title. Angus and Robertson published Wattle babies in Sydney in 1918. This book is undated and unpaged. It contains many pages of black and white sketches, with two coloured illustrations. Each illustration is signed by the author. The book gives us a simple introduction to the Australian bush life, seen through the author's eyes. May Gibbs not only wrote the stories, but also illustrated her books. She is best known for her Snugglepot and Cuddlepie books, first published in 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Bear and friends was published in 1943, in Sydney by Angus and Robertson. It has black and white illustrations with one colour illustration. This copy was well used by 'Patricia and Jodie'. Their names have been written over the book a few times. Advertising materialFollowing are examples of two advertising booklets collected by Ken Pound. Cinderella's dream, and what it taught her was published in Melbourne by J. Kitchen and Son's. It is undated, but it is thought to have been published in the 1920's. This booklet measures 62mm by 120mm with16 pages. The booklet advertises J. Kitchen soap products and illustrations are by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite. The illustrations are predominately in black and white with just a hint of colour on four pages. Each illustration is initialled with 'IRO'. The wording of the verses are based on the Cinderella story. The item is housed in an acid free box made by the Conservation Department of the State Library of Victoria. This certainly is an unusual item purchased by Ken Pound. A check on Kinetica shows that the State Library of Victoria is the only library to hold this item. This is a story of Ackman's, is an undated advertising booklet published around 1919 in Fitzroy, Victoria. The booklet advertisers the wares of the home furnishing shop of Ackman. It contains coloured illustrations that include small children, fairies, teddy bears, animals and children's toys in a home setting or in the park. The illustrations are also by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite. The rhyme is based on The house that Jack built. This item is very scarce. A check on Kinetica showed that ANL and the State Library of Victoria hold this item. Picture booksThere is a large collection of picture books in the collection, with strong holdings for Connie Christie. Each issue has a full wraparound coloured illustration and is signed by the author. The books were published in Melbourne in the 1940's. Within each issue there are plenty of black and white, colour and sepia illustrations. The colours are bright, which would be very enticing for young children. Many of these picture books are in excellent condition. In the collection each issue has been inserted in a plastic satchel with a corex sheet backing to give it support. They were not designed for posterity. Annuals and adventure booksThe Ken Pound collection has a variety of annuals and boy and girl adventure books. These books were very popular in the 19th century. Children looked forward to receiving their copy. The books are full of fascinating facts, adventurous stories, activities to make and do and puzzle and quiz pages. Annuals and adventure books contained several stories within each issue written by a variety of authors. Stories were set in different countries, including Australia. Some of the boy stories featured themes based on life in the bush, on war, sea adventures, sport, jungle adventures and perhaps a Christmas story. Girls were frequently depicted as good or brave, reflecting the social expectations of the time. The stories would be set in a school or family setting. Some authors had not even set foot in Australia, but still set their stories with an Australian bush/outback setting. For those books published overseas, Ken Pound collected annuals and adventure books that had an Australian setting and where stories were written by an Australian author. Many of these books are illustrated in black and white with the occasional coloured page. These books were looked upon as widening the child's reading and enriching their store of practical knowledge. Whitcombe and Tombs booksThese books number approximately 1000 in the collection - ranging from the story books to books used in school in around the 1940's, the new austral grammars, human geography readers for all grades, the vivid history readers, progressive English courses and the like. With an interest in children's literature on the rise, Whitcombe and Tombs Limited of Christchurch and Auckland, began to print schoolbooks and other books. From 1908 the mass-produced, low priced, paper wrapped children's readers, eventually became known throughout Australasia as Whitcombe's story books. Cole's Funny Picture BookKen Pound also collected the Cole's funny picture book. EW Cole compiled the first Cole's funny picture book in 1879. Forty thousand copies were sold for one shilling each of the first copy. Book no. 2 was issued in 1882. We have 38 books, published from 1906 to 1987. These books contain stories for children and adults, poems, songs and music and things to make and do. There are also riddles and games to play. There are plenty of black and white illustrations throughout with the occasional colour illustration. Paste-in cards and albumsThere are also a large number of paste-in card albums, the type where cards are mounted on spaces provided. These were popular from the 1940's and onwards. These publications include trading cards and trading stickers accompanied with an album and related material such as posters. Some examples are:
Non-book itemsSome non-book items that are also part of the Ken Pound collection are the following:
BibliographyBiographyMary began working in the cataloguing department of the Barr Smith Library, Adelaide University in 1975 as a library assistant. Mary graduated from the library technician course with the certificate in 1981. Moving to Melbourne in 1982, she began working as a library technician in the State Library of Victoria in 1983 where she has since held a variety of positions working in the Cataloguing, Serials, Binding and Government Publications Sections. Mary graduated with the Diploma of Library and Information Studies in 2000.
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