1876 gift among treasures at upcoming Book Fair
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.
Proceeds go towards funding much needed student scholarships and special building projects at the University.
The Friends of the University have raised close to $1 million for the University.
“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.”
The Book Fair runs from 10-17 August between 10am and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday and 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday, with trading extended to 7pm on Thursday.
