92-Year-Old Scholar Champions Physical Books

Professor Wallace Kirsop, aged 92, is a distinguished Australian authority on rare books, focusing on their physical history and the stories they reveal. His personal library contains approximately 20,000 volumes, serving as a vital working reference collection.

Kirsop's expertise, termed 'archaeology of the printed book,' encompasses the provenance, production, and materiality of rare texts. He co-established the Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand in 1969 and has been pivotal in integrating rare book studies and special collections within Australian academic institutions.

His career involved extensive teaching and advocacy for libraries. Kirsop highlights the declining emphasis on bibliography in academic curricula and libraries' shift towards digital media, a trend he critiques as 'new parochialism.' He argues for the necessity of examining original printed works, especially pre-1801 publications.

A remarkable instance demonstrating the significance of original texts is the 2017 discovery of a rare Giorgione sketch and inscription within the University of Sydney Library's 1497 copy of Dante's Divine Comedy. This find, authenticated using advanced synchrotron technology, identified the artist's birth and death dates, making the book Australia's most valuable.

Kirsop, a donor to the State Library Victoria and a supporter of its user organizations, expresses concern over recent library restructures and reduced hours, advocating for increased user representation on library boards. He maintains a deliberate distance from modern technology, preferring enduring physical media for his scholarly pursuits.