Adopt-a-Book

An Initiative of the Friends of the University of Adelaide Library

Bush friends in Tasmania: native flowers, fruits and insects, drawn from nature, with prose descriptions and illustrations in verse.

Louisa Anne Meredith (1812-1895)
London: Macmillan, 1891

Rare Books & Special Collections
Strong Room Collection SR 581.9946 M55

We thank our donor...

Conservation treatment of Bush friends in Tasmania...was funded through the generosity of an anonymous donor in November 2014.

Synopsis

Born in Birmingham, England, in 1812, Louisa Anne Twamley was educated mostly by her mother. In April 1839 she married her cousin, Charles Meredith, and two months later the couple sailed for New South Wales. They settled at Homebush for a year before relocating to Tasmania in 1840. Louisa compiled and illustrated several books on colonial life and society, native flora and fauna and many illustrated books of poetry. She took an active interest in politics and animal welfare, and influenced her husband, a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council during the 1850s, to legislate for the preservation of native wildlife and scenery.

Bush friends in Tasmania is Louisa's sequel to Some of my bush friends in Tasmania (1869) and Nellie; or, seeking goodly pearls (1882). The Library holds two copies of the book - numbers 59 and 664 of a limited edition of 700 copies signed by the author.

Original Condition

Green cloth binding with gilt decoration to front cover and blind stamping to front and rear boards. The leaves, originally attached to spine with Gutta-percha/caoutchouc, had become brittle and loose due to hardening of the glue. Neither of the Library's copies could be displayed as a result. Both volumes required resewing entirely.

Restoration by Anthony Zammit

All leaves, originally attached to spine with Gutta-percha/caoutchouc, were separated and the glue residue was removed. Leaves were then sewn in, creating a sturdy textblock. Tears to individual pages were mended with Japanese paper, and front and rear boards were reattached and also reinforced with Japanese repair paper.