Tory Page talks Archive Collecting in the Latest Issue of Openbook
Theodore Bruce books specialist, Tory Page, was recently interviewed for the latest issue of Openbook, a magazine for Friends of the State Library of NSW. She spoke to Peter Hobbins, Historian & Curator at the Australian National Maritime Museum, about the allure of informal archives – and what collectors of historical documents, photos, ledgers, letters & manuscripts look for when buying at auction.
The Allure of Archives
“Can I resist a bit of dumpster diving to retrieve this little treasure. As I wade in, pushing aside broken ceramics, dust-furred timber and long expired condiments, I’m not so much worried about getting grubby as I am about breaking a leg, while the rubble crumbles beneath me. By my rummage yields more than the green album, replete with handwritten messages and sketches dating from the 1910s. I also emerge clutching an Air Force-issue Bible and a 1943 fuel flow calculation chart for a Catalina flying boat. A hat trick of historical rescues!”
So begins Peter Hobbins’ Openbook feature on informal archives, and the auction houses, op shops, markets – and dumpsters – where you can find these wonderful items outside formal collections. For the article, Hobbins interviewed Tory Page, as well as sellers John Morgan of The Hub Newtown, Elle Foster of Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury in Naremburn, and Renay Rogers of Jazibits in Sydney’s Ashfield.
Each spoke of the way these archives provide a fascinating connection with history, including wider community history – and personal history. In respecting people’s lives, it means there are some items that won’t be sold, and others, such as photo albums, that ideally are kept together.
The appeal of archival items varies for each buyer – from the student crafting a lampshade with archival 35mm slides to the history buff looking for a glimpse of the past. Many are looking to buy objects that have a story.
Collecting Archives at Auction
At Theodore Bruce Auctioneers, archival buyers can range from occasional to avid collectors and include institutions such as the State Library of NSW. Last September, photos and documents belonging to Kathleen. M. Butler (1891-1972), known as ‘The Bridge Girl’ came up for auction. As Tory states in the feature, her papers provide “an irreplaceable archive of Sydney Harbour Bridge history“. An eclectic group of bidders included serious collectors of bridge items, as well as buyers who just wanted a bit of bridge history.
Tory also finds that there are particular aspects that draw collectors to archives – including commercial value, condition and celebrity – while “ephemera such as event flyers, trade catalogues or posters can also raise the price.”
Tory comments in the Openbook feature that researching archival material coming up for auction – even with very low estimates – can prove irresistible. “It’s very easy to get engaged with it and want to go that little bit further‘, something Peter Hobbins wholeheartedly agrees with.
The full article is available to Friends of the State Library of NSW. More details on the Openbook page.
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers regularly offers archival material as part of our Books & Ephemera auctions. To stay informed, please join our mailing list below, follow us on Instagram or keep an eye on Upcoming Auctions.