Antique books, maps and binding equipment to attract serious collectors

Auctioneer Steve Graham will auction the third and final section of Arthur Akhurst’s vast collection of collectables and memorabilia on site from 10am Sunday February 28 at 17 Cheniston Road, Mount Macedon.

Serving in the RAAF during World War II and later working for the NAB, Akhurst was a keen amateur bookbinder and the three auctions of more than 3000 items in total reflect this passion.

This final sale features a comprehensive range of antique books dating from the 1700s, book binding machinery and equipment, printing presses, stamps, coins, antique maps and collectable road maps from the 1930s and 1940s.

Graham said sale highlights were the 1868 map of Port Jackson and City of Sydney and the Nazi German (complete with swastika) map of Germany from 1938.

Other maps include early portrayals of the Port of London docks, Victorian country, town planning and military installations. 

“The road maps carry the advertising of the petrol company concerned, with Shell including field stations and oilfields,” he said. “There also are interesting papers including old wills, title and letters.”

The auction contains a Chandler & Price early 20^th century guillotine, HJTM Series No. 387/2A hot foil press and a large variety of book and finishing presses.

Filing cabinets, bookcases, desks and plan cabinets – some of which contain a large variety of typefaces – are other attractions.