Antique Print Room

I only found this place yesterday: it’s a bit ‘hidden away’ on the third floor of the QVB which, once you know it, is in fact the most interesting floor. The owner? staff? is very friendly and clearly enjoys her job. She also has a very distinct and interesting dress style. There are beautiful prints in various price ranges and books-​with-​prints. I bought a relatively cheap book (about 20 AUD) with maps of Australia since it was discovered until it was rounded for the first time — a fascinating follow-​up of man’s development in this area. Even then, the service was impeccable. I may go back for more.

Check out the ‘Flying Possum’ illustration from 1789 — colonial Australian art is like watching minds melting, trying to assimilate what they saw into a context that didn’t have room for it. The possum looks goofy and ungainly, and sure to plummet straight to the ground.
The Antique Print Room is like a visual history lesson, from politcal cartoons to Art Nouveau advertsing prints, amazing Gould’s bird illustrations and maps of all vintages and varieties. Before you dismiss it all as hopelessly out of your price range, you can find a bargain here. I once bought a lovely illustration as a gift for about $ 25, and framed it up. Looked a million bucks. When gazing at the beautiful art the other day, the cheapest I saw was about $ 40, but still a great option for gift giving. Unless your recipient has a vast collection of old French Fashion plates or botanical illustrations, you’re unlikely to double up. And more welcome than socks, surely.
I’ve got my eye on some Ida Rentoul Outhwaite prints (early 20^th century Australian children’s writer and artist), they’d be spectacular for a kid’s room. They do framing here too, and the staff are quiet and kind, and don’t mind people just looking.