Catalogue of Books on Cambridge - Library - University of Melbourne

Criddle, proprietor <strong>of</strong> the former Benet Gallery, King’s
Parade, Cambridge, amassed over several decades a fine
collection <strong>of</strong> rare books, mostly illustrated, on Cambridge
from the 17th to the 19th century.When he decided to
break up that collection, he unexpectedly <strong>of</strong>fered the
University <strong>of</strong> Melbourne Library the first choice, and over
40 very rare items were thus acquired.
Since 1994, nearly all <strong>of</strong> these additions to the
University <strong>of</strong> Melbourne Library have been shelved
together as a single collection in the Rare <strong>Books</strong> collection
under the prefix Bx/CAM. During the last four years,
despite drastic financial cutbacks in general funds to buy
books for the University <strong>of</strong> Melbourne Library, further
items continue to be added by donation to the CAM
collection which now numbers some 1,350 items. Its 44
metres <strong>of</strong> shelving house an unusually wide variety <strong>of</strong>
items for their date <strong>of</strong> publication, their physical condition,
and in their range <strong>of</strong> topics, all rubbing shoulders side by
side, since they are arranged in alphabetical order by author
(as set out in the by author catalogue).Though these items
are non-loanable, they are readily available for consultation
in the Baillieu Library Special Reading Room.
As most <strong>of</strong> the CAM items were obtained secondhand,
chiefly through 17 years <strong>of</strong> indefatigable efforts by Neil
Adams from the well-known Cambridge secondhand
bookshop G. David, the collection now has a splendid
variety <strong>of</strong> bookplates both in size and design. Also, many
items contain very interesting handwritten inscriptions by
either the author or donor, and many are addressed to
significant recipients.These bookplates and inscriptions
provide considerable research material.
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Over 150 out-<strong>of</strong>-print items have been identified as
being wanted for the collection.Though lists containing
details <strong>of</strong> these items have been circulated for several years,
particularly through selected British secondhand
bookshops, the rate <strong>of</strong> success in obtaining some <strong>of</strong> these
items has been disappointingly small.
<strong>Catalogue</strong>s arranged by author and by year have been
prepared by Pierre Gorman and are available in print form.
Electronic versions have been placed on the Melbourne
University computer network and are accessible through
the University <strong>of</strong> Melbourne Library’s home page.
While the Cambridge collection is multi-disciplinary
in approach, it has many particular strengths. For example,
a fine collection <strong>of</strong> guide books on Cambridge, ranging
from the earliest known item, published in 1754, to the
present time, is held.These items contain valuable
contemporary information on the university, colleges and
the town, and sometimes the neighbourhood too.The
emphasis given inside particular items <strong>of</strong>ten indicates what
its author (sometimes anonymous) considered most
desirable for the guide book user to read. Originally these
books were not illustrated, but they gradually came to
include one or more engravings to highlight particular
buildings or landscapes considered noteworthy at that time.
In time, some guides contained literally over a hundred
woodcuts which, with changing technology, eventually
were replaced by photographic material.An examination
<strong>of</strong> their texts and illustrations provide a fascinating study
on the evolution <strong>of</strong> these guide books.
The collection is also particularly strong in its almost
200 items containing histories <strong>of</strong> the university and its