Sydney Rare Book Auctions has moved to a bigger and better venue at C11/372-428 Wattle Street, Ultimo, NSW. The move was in part prompted by growth in the business that has seen increased sales over the last few years and growing demand for the material we handle.

Auctioneer Paul Feain is excited by what he’s seen in recent times. “We have been quietly going about our business, gradually improving on systems and also revenue, and this has meant we’ve outgrown our prior establishment. It’s fantastic to see that in a day where technology is seeing people turn away from traditional printed books, that the world of rare and antique books, maps and ephemera is still strong.”

The Ultimo venue is not only larger in size but also provides a lovely space for displaying items and holding auctions. Also of note is the intention to hold bi-annual Sydney Book Fares on location, as well as regular social and educational functions on all things relating to printed material.

“Sydney Rare Books is a business that’s as much about building a strong book-loving community as it is about selling things. By having passionate and well informed collectors and introducing new people into the fold we will have a better future for the trade.”

The team at Sydney Rare Books looks forward to showing you our new venue when we formally open the doors on the evening of October 19^th ahead of our October 21^st sale. Prior to that, if you want to pay us a visit, feel free – just ring in advance so we can grab you a coffee!

We will be holding our bi-monthly auction on Saturday 10^th December 2016 at 1.00PM at 33 Nelson St Annandale. Included is a very good selection of books from the estate of the late Judge Terry Naughton Q.C. (1941-2016).

Terry had a strong interest in photography and there are many hundreds of photography books being sold. Books featuring the photographs of Dombrovskis, Dupain, Ansel Adams, David Moore, Helmut Newton, Frank Hurley along with many books of landscape and subject photography such as Railway Photography, Cowboy photography, Architectural photography and many more.

Terry also had a strong interest in Architecture and there are many fine architectural books including Hardy Wilson, books on Court Houses, Italian, Australian, ancient Architecture and more. All these books are in great condition. Nearly all bear his bookplate and some have a small residue of sticky tape on an endpaper.

The Ancient History collection is superb. The books are all modern and it’s a comprehensive academic collection rarely seen. All these books are in wonderful condition. The Fine Bindings in the collection are also mouth watering. There are a couple of book cases full of fine bindings. Leather, cloth, vellum, sets – you will want them!

Judge Terry Naughton QC (1941-2016) Terence Naughton was born on 28 January 1941 in Drummoyne, Sydney. He was raised in Hunters Hill and Bowral. His father (also Terence Naughton) was an Anglican minister who studied Theology at Keeble College, Oxford University. His mother was from Newcastle-on-Tyne in England. His twin sister, Rosemary Naughton, pursued a successful career in fashion modelling in the 1960’s in Melbourne, London and Paris. Terry (jnr) attended Sydney Boys’ High (1958-59), where he was a prefect, captain of debating and played cricket in the 2nd XI. He won several public speaking competitions, including the Eisteddfod of Sydney and junior public speaking champion of New South Wales in 1959.

Terry won a Commonwealth Scholarship to study his bachelor of laws at The University of Sydney, where he was captain of the University debating team. He later completed his Master of Law also at the University of Sydney. He practised in Sydney as a solicitor at Clayton Utz Solicitors and Blake Dawson Waldron Solicitors before being called to the New South Wales Bar in 1967, where he practised until 1997. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1987. In 1997 he was appointed a Judge of the District Court of New South Wales from which he retired in 2007.

Terry was married for 47 years to Margaret Naughton until her passing in 2014. He is survived by two children and five grandchildren. Terry was a keen Latin, literature and ancient history scholar. He acquired a large library of books on classical and modern history, literature, poetry, architecture and photography. He was a keen amateur photographer, exhibiting his works, which were produced in his home darkroom and publishing a photographic book on courthouses of New South Wales in 1987. His exhibitions and book were reviewed favourably by Max Dupain. He served as a director of the Australian Centre for Photography which exposed him to the work of many Australian photographers. His personal collection includes photographs of many Australian photographers including Max Dupain, Harold Cazneaux, Murray Fredericks and Gordon Undy, to name a few. Terry was also a passionate numismatist, collecting ancient, medieval, Australasian and world coins.