Abstract

In 1853, the Library of the Supreme Court of Victoria (in Melbourne, Australia) was founded with the brief that it would provide the “primary necessities … for reference and research in law”. By 1875, the intention of the library had broadened to include items aimed at providing a “course of liberal and enlightened training” for legal practitioners. Books were purchased from London according to the specifications of the library committee’s bibliophilic chairman, a Supreme Court judge, but even allowing that a more comprehensive collection to inform the practise of law in the colony might be useful, some of the items supplied to the library are surprising. This paper will consider whether items which appear to be completely discordant with the collection statement, and without even a tenuous connection to the law discernible, were acquired purposively or were thrust upon the library as sharp practice, taking advantage of a far removed colonial institution. Nineteenth century bookselling and publishing practices will be considered and also the intellectual value of items acquired to 21st century readers and researchers.