Ex Libris J T Mackelvie

JTM portrait by George Halkett 1884

James Mackelvie lived in Auckland for just five years from 1865 to 1870. During this time he made his fortune and on his return to Europe and London he began collecting books and art for Auckland. Books arrived from the 1870’s but the bulk of his curated collection arrived after his untimely death in 1885.

In our next event, Rare Books Librarian Jane Wild will describe the Mackelvie Collection at Auckland Libraries.

You will get to see some of the rare titles purchased by James Mackelvie including Owen Jones’ Grammar of Ornament (1856), the first edition of Buller’s Birds (1873) and other exceptional titles and favourites James Mackelvie selected as a legacy for Auckland.

The Victorian gentleman’s library continues to delight and inform new research in 2024.

This is a free event, but registration via Event rite is required.

Wednesday 11 September 2024
1.00pm - 2.00pm
Whare Wānanga -level 2
Auckland Central Library

Free event and open to all to attend.

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About Our Speaker:

Jane Wild is currently Rare Books Librarian at Auckland Council Libraries in a job share partnership with Renée Orr.

Jane has extensive experience in the documentary heritage sector in Aotearoa New Zealand with roles at the Alexander Turnbull Library, the University of Auckland Library and Auckland Libraries. In 2023 she co-curated two exhibitions, Tara McLeod master printer and Miraculous Manuscripts which demonstrate the range of Auckland’s public heritage collections spanning a thousand years of rare books. She is a member of the Mackelvie Trust.

© Adrian Malloch photograph