The Fencer’s Manual
Melbourne Rare Book Week
The mystery surrounding the first commercially published book in Melbourne.
Speaker: Andrew Lemon AM FRHSV
Historian Andrew Lemon revisits his research into the extraordinary story of the very first commercial book, published in 1859 by Clarson, Shallard and Co. (later Clarson, Massina and Co.), successors to the firm Slater, Williams and Hodgins, printers in Melbourne since the end of the La Trobe era. Who was Robert Meikle, the mystery author of the very rare The Fencer’s Manual? And while the Massina name continued in the publishing world, what led to the tragic demise of his one-time business partner and eminent horticulturalist, William Clarson?
Drinks: 6:00
Talk: 6:45pm
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