1st Ed of The Female Eunuch, signed by Germaine Greer

The Female Eunuch is a 1970 book by Germaine Greer that became an international bestseller and an important text in the feminist movement. The main thesis of the book is that the “traditional” suburban, consumerist, nuclear family represses women sexually, and that this devitalizes them, rendering them eunuchs. The book was published in London in October 1970. By March 1971, it had nearly sold out its second printing. It has been translated into eleven languages.

This incredibly significant book is arguably one of the most important works of the modern era. It challenged a woman’s traditional role in society, and provided an important framework for the feminist movement of the 1970s. The Female Eunuch called on women to reject their traditional roles in the home, and explore ways to break out of the mould that society had imposed on them. It also encouraged women to question the power of traditional authority figures – such as doctors, psychiatrists, priests and the police – who at the time were not used to being questioned, and to explore their own sexuality.

Estimate: $300-400

Next Auction Announced

Sydney Rare Book Auctions is excited to announce that we are moving into permanent premises in 33 Nelson St Annandale and our next auction will be held here on Saturday June 15th at 1pm. Full details will be announced on May 15th

Among the many items we have for sale is the rarest and perhaps most desirable reptile book ever produced and whats more it’s the special hand coloured copy. Copies of this book are scarce and it rarely comes on the market.

The book is Tortoises, Terrapins, and Turtles Drawn From Life, By James De Carle Sowerby and Edward Lear. Published in London, Paris and Frankfort by Henry Sotheran, Joseph Baer & Co in 1872.

It is bound in a very attractive binding of recent half leather and marbled boards. There are  60 lithographic plates of which 57 are handcoloured and  all drawn on stome by Edward Lear after J D C Sowerby. It is a very clean, bright and crisp copy. The production of this book was supervised by Thomas Bell. J E Gray wrote the text. Sowerby was the artist with Edward Lear being the lithographer. This is the rarest and perhaps best reptile book and coloured copies are extremely scarce

Other unusual items in the sale are three original albumen photographs by Henry King taken in the 1880s in Sydney. There is a view of Manly, another of Coogee Bay and a third of Hyde Park. Of course we have a number of fine bindings including a beautiful set of Shakespeare in German, a first edition in half leather of Macquoid’s History of Furniture, a large number in one lot of Easton Press bindings all in full leather with gilt edges and richly ornate, two antique books in full leather which were prizes given by the Presbyterian Ladies College in Sydney. Also are a few antiquarian books from the sixteenth century through to the nineteenth century all bound in full vellum.

There is more Norman Lindsay books including two Henry Lawson books published in 1914 with Norman Lindsay covers. Although not uncommon, it is highly unusual to find these books in such good condition. There are six books signed by Norman Lindsay in the sale including Paintings in Oil and Shipwreck.

There are some Aboriginal books including the very desirable Bradshaw’s Art of the Kimberley. Also, Australia’s own Nobel Prize winner in Patrick White is well represented with a good run of his novels including fine copies of The Living and The Dead and The Aunts Story.

There is also good collection of books on Agriculture with an emphasis on sheep as well as a great run of cattle herd stud books.