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Rare Jonathan Swift portrait donated to library

23 November 2005

The Monash University Library has been presented with a rare engraving of famous 18th century author, poet, political satirist and clergyman Jonathan Swift (1667--1745).

Swift presentation: Ms Cathrine Harboe-Ree and Professor Clive Probyn with the rare engraving of Jonathan Swift.

The engraving was part of the collection put together by Swift scholar and editor Mr David Woolley, who died last month. It was Mr Woolley's wish that the portrait be presented to the library to accompany its collection of Swift's works originally bought from him.

Professor Clive Probyn at Monash's School of English, Communications and Performance Studies presented the engraving to the university librarian, Ms Cathrine Harboe-Ree, at a Friends of the Monash University Library function on 10 November.

Andrew Miller in Dublin engraved the print in 1743 from an oil portrait of Swift painted by Francis Bindon in 1739. The original painting of Swift in his clerical garb hangs in St Patrick's Church in Dublin, where Swift was dean.

Mr Woolley was a world-renowned expert on Swift and edited his correspondence. Over the years he amassed a formidable collection of Swiftiana.

In 1962, the library bought Mr Woolley's first collection of early editions by Swift and his circle. This purchase formed the nucleus of the Monash Rare Books Collection.

The Swift collection has been added to considerably over the years and now includes several manuscript letters written by Jonathan Swift and his contemporaries, as well as a first edition set of Gulliver's Travels published in 1726, accompanied by its even rarer unauthorised sequel, Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World, Volume III, published in 1727.

Monash University Rare Books librarian Mr Richard Overell said he was delighted with the portrait.

"This is a fine engraving and one which will take pride of place in the reading room in the Rare Books section," Mr Overell said.

Mr Woolley was principal oboist at Covent Garden Opera in London for 15 years and also played oboe with the Sydney Symphony, London Philharmonic and Melbourne Symphony orchestras.

He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by Monash University in 1987.