Guide to the Papers of George Collingridge, 1895-1930

Summary

Collection number:

MS 9395

Creator:

Collingridge, George and Hordern House Rare Books

Extent:

(10 ms boxes + 1 medium folio box)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of George Collingridge, National Library of Australia, MS 9395, [box number and series and/or folder number]'.

Availability:

Available

Background

Content Summary:

The bulk of the papers comprise original manuscripts of works by Collingridge. They consist of drafts of a number of his published works, together with drafts of a large number of articles. Some of the manuscripts include sketches, maps, mock-ups and lists of subscribers. Apart from one business letter, there is no correspondence included in the papers. Most of the papers are undated.

Accompanying the papers was a hand-painted globe, made from a wooden newel post, depicting world geography in 1530. Dating from the late 19th century, it is believed to be one of the earliest globes made in Australia. This globe has been transferred to the Maps Section of the Library (RM 3429)

The papers are evidence of Collingridge's wide-ranging interests. They bring together a large quantity of his writings and provide evidence of his sources, his skills as a creative writer and the methods he used in producing his books.

Biographical Note:

George Alphonse Collingridge de Tourcey was an artist, engraver, cartographer, linguist, historian and writer. He was born in Oxfordshire on 28 October 1847. In 1853 he moved with his family to Paris where he was educated at the Jesuit College, Vaugirard. In 1863, Collingridge studied architecture under Viollet le Duc and entered Horcholle's studio as an apprentice in wood engraving. He left architecture to study painting, attending classes at the Ecole des Beaux Arts and studying under the artist Corot. Collingridge became an expert wood engraver and worked for all the leading illustrated newspapers of the day. At the 1879 International Exhibition in Paris, he was awarded the bronze medal for engraving. In 1878, Collingridge was one of three engravers selected by Le Monde Illustre to accompany the artist Vierge to Madrid to cover the marriage of the King Alfonso XII of Spain.

In 1867 Collingridge went to Italy and enlisted in the Papal Zouaves to fight the Garibaldians. He served with distinction and was mentioned for bravery, receiving the Mentana Cross and the Cross of St Gregory the Great.

In 1879 Collingridge followed his brother Arthur to Australia, and joined the staff of the Illustrated Sydney News. The brothers became important identities in the Sydney art world, teaching in art schools and in technical colleges. Collingridge was a staff member of the Sydney Technical College for some years. In 1880 they founded the Royal Art Society of New South Wales. In 1888 Collingridge published Australian Art, the first Australian journal devoted to art.

Collingridge was a prolific author, writing a number of books and articles on a wide range of subjects. He had a passion for the geographical history of the Pacific and researched the history of Australian maritime exploration widely. His most acclaimed work was The discovery of Australia, which was published in 1895. This book was the first serious attempt at a geographical history of Australia and dealt with the discovery of the continent prior to Cook's arrival. Collingridge was a strong supporter of Portuguese priority in the discovery of Australia, publishing some 30 articles on the subject.

Collingridge was also an accomplished linguist, being fluent in six languages and Esperanto. He set up the first Esperanto Club in Australia in 1908. It was his hope that Esperanto would become the universal language.

The value of Collingridge's work on the early maritime history of the Pacific was recognised in Europe by various Geographical Societies. In 1908, the King of Portugal made him a Knight of Santiago and in 1917 the King of Spain conferred upon him the Order of Isabela la Catolica.

In 1880 Collingridge took up a selection of 88 acres on the bend of Berowra Creek, which later became Collingridge Point, where his stone cottage 'Capo di Monte' still stands. Towards the end of the century he moved to Hornsby. His stone cottage, 'Jave-la-Grande', is now a non-denominational chapel in the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital grounds. His final residence was 'Nerola' in Balmoral Street, Hornsby.

George Collingridge died in 1931.

Collingridge's published works include:

Australian art: a monthly magazine and journal, published by Collingridge, Jan-Mar 1888The fantastic islands of the Indian Ocean and of Australasia in the Middle Ages: and their significance in connection with the early cartography of Australia [1894?]The discovery of Australia: a critical, documentary and historic investigation concerning the priority of discovery in Australasia by Europeans before the arrival of Lieut. James Cook in the 'Endeavour' in the year 1770, Hayes Bros., Sydney, 1895 (Republished by Golden Press in 1983)Progress: an illustrated journal and magazine devoted to the record of facts concerning the growth, progress and history of Australasia, published by Collingridge, 1898Form and color, Part 1 2, published by Collingridge [189?]The first discovery of Australia and New Guinea: being the narrative of Portuguese and Spanish discoveries in the Australasian regions, between the years 1492-1606, with descriptions of their old charts, William Brooks, Sydney, 1906

(Facsimile editions published by Pan Books in 1982 and 1989)

La Australia verdastelo: the illustrated Australian magazine for those who know and those who do not know Esperanto, published by Collingridge, began in 1908; ceased in 1909The early discovery of Australia and the reason for a 'no man's land' on this continent of ours, W.E. Smith, Sydney, 1912Alice in one dear land [published by Collingridge, 1922]Through the joke in class [published by Collingridge, 1923]It: is principally a collection of wood cuts [published by Collingridge, 1924]Berowra the unsolved mystery of its amazing ridge, published by Collingridge [1924]Round and round the world, published by Collingridge [1925-1927]Pictures and places, published by Collingridge [1926]Pacifika: the antediluvian world, published by Collingridge [1928-1930?]

Provenance:

The papers of George Collingridge were purchased from Hordern House Rare Books in 1999.

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn89978).

Conditions Governing Use:

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of George Collingridge, National Library of Australia, MS 9395, [box number and series and/or folder number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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