Two volumes of poetry and prose by Robert Burns given as a farewell gift to a Scottish immigrant bound for Newcastle in 1876 are among the treasures at this year's University of Newcastle Book Fair.

According to Mr Vic Levi, President of the Friends of the University the leather bound books were presented to Mr William Muir who worked his passage to Australia and then spent 42 years in the postal service, most of them at Newcastle Post Office.

The inscription on the books reads - "Presented to Mr William Muir in May 1876 at Dundee on the occasion of his leaving for Australia by a few Brither Scots."

The volumes are just two of the many thousands of items which will go on sale at the Book Fair in the University's Great Hall from August 10 to 17.

Friends of the University has raised almost one million dollars since its inception in 1981, with the money going to numerous projects around the University as well as student scholarships. The fair includes sales of all manner of books and texts including CDs, records, DVDs, sheet music, comics, magazines and lots of interesting and collectable books.

"Other rare items to go on sale are a Beatles Collection which includes a beautifully preserved box set of 13 LPs with the records and spectacular jackets in near new condition," Mr Levi said.|

"The records, all the Beatles' British LPs, sold for $319 in the late 1970s. Also included in the collection are 101 Beatles Songs for Buskers, a video titled The Compleat Beatles and a set of press cuttings from 1971 about Paul McCartney."

Other collectors' items include:

 * an amazing collection of more than 200 Phantom comics, annual specials from 1997 to 2011, the Phantom Encyclopedia and replica editions
 * 18 first editions of books by Ion Idriess
 * a wonderfully preserved copy of Thackeray's Vanity Fair dated 1915 and illustrated with beautiful, tissue-guarded colour plates
 * an 1867 Bible
 * a Royal collection for the monarchists which includes a 'picture pageant' of Queen Mary's years and many other collectors' pieces

WHEN: 10 - 17 August
              10am - 5pm Saturday and Sunday
              10am - 4pm Monday to Friday, with trading extended to 7pm Thursday

WHERE: The Great Hall (See campus map for directions)
                University of Newcastle
                Callaghan Campus