This upcoming auction of materials from the estate of Ion Idriess includes a wide range of materials, ranging from original manuscript books to letters and ephemera. It represents a unique opportunity for collectors of Ion Idriess – and Australian literature more generally – to acquire original manuscript and archival materials by (and related to) this iconic Australian author. Some highlights include letters relating to gold mining leases at Ophir, with discussion of ancient megafauna bones (lot number 58). Letters to and from miners across Australia feature prominently in this outstanding auction. Also upcoming in this auction is an uncorrected proof copy of Idriess’ book on fighting in New Guinea titled Trapping the Jap, from the Second World War Guerilla series. See lot number 67. Of special interest is correspondence to Idriess from other veterans of Gallipoli and the Middle Eastern campaigns during the First World War. Following the success of The Desert Column, veterans from across Australia and the British Empire wrote to Idriess to relate their personal experiences. See, for example, lot numbers 78, 84 and 91. Collectors of First World War material will also be intrigued by a small manuscript note by Idriess, recounting his experience aboard a transport vessel in the Dardanelles during the First World War. Idriess writes that he was badly wounded in one leg and suffering greatly. This scrap almost certainly dates from late May 1915 when Idriess was wounded at Gallipoli. Lot number 116. Much of the appeal of the Idriess archive is the preservation of unusual and idiosyncratic correspondence. One good instance of this is a letter from an American serviceman in New Guinea during the Second World War. This soldier writes to know the opinion of Idriess on the existence of mental telepathy amongst the Torres Strait Islanders (lot number 114). Curiously enough, Idriess was a believer in telepathic communication amongst the indigenous peoples of Torres Strait and northern Australia. We invite you to peruse this remarkable selection offered by Sydney Rare Book Auctions. The range and breadth of material offered is remarkable indeed. When: 12 noon Sunday 17th November Where: Online only (Timed auction) Catalogue: https://www.invaluable.com/catalog/5hhl7nr8tp?page=1&size=48 Viewing: 10am - 4pm weekdays - You can view the items in person at Sydney Rare Book Auctions Dalgety Square at C11/372-428 Wattle Street, Ultimo, NSW 2007 Bidding absentee, on Invaluable and on our website. Absentee bids are due by email at 3pm, Friday 15th November (Sydney Time). Questions welcomed. Please get them in before 3pm, Friday 15th November (Sydney Time).

12 noon Sunday 17th November This upcoming auction of materials from the estate of Ion Idriess includes a wide range of materials, ranging from original manuscript books to letters and ephemera. It represents a unique opportunity for collectors of Ion Idriess – and Australian literature more generally – to acquire original manuscript and archival materials by (and related to) this iconic Australian author. Some highlights include letters relating to gold mining leases at Ophir, with discussion of ancient megafauna bones (Lot 58). Letters to and from miners across Australia feature prominently in this outstanding auction. Also upcoming in this auction is an uncorrected proof copy of Idriess’ book on fighting in New Guinea titled Trapping the Jap, from the Second World War Guerilla series (Lot 67). Of special interest is correspondence to Idriess from other veterans of Gallipoli and the Middle Eastern campaigns during the First World War. Following the success of The Desert Column, veterans from across Australia and the British Empire wrote to Idriess to relate their personal experiences. See, for example, lot numbers 78, 84 and 91. Collectors of First World War material will also be intrigued by a small manuscript note by Idriess, recounting his experience aboard a transport vessel in the Dardanelles during the First World War. Idriess writes that he was badly wounded in one leg and suffering greatly. This scrap almost certainly dates from late May 1915 when Idriess was wounded at Gallipoli (Lot 116). Much of the appeal of the Idriess archive is the preservation of unusual and idiosyncratic correspondence. One good instance of this is a letter from an American serviceman in New Guinea during the Second World War. This soldier writes to know the opinion of Idriess on the existence of mental telepathy amongst the Torres Strait Islanders (Lot 114). Curiously enough, Idriess was a believer in telepathic communication amongst the indigenous peoples of Torres Strait and Northern Australia. We invite you to peruse this remarkable selection offered by Sydney Rare Book Auctions. The range and breadth of material offered is remarkable indeed. Catalogue https://www.invaluable.com/auction-house/sydney-rare-book-auctions-0i5go4cimb  When Sunday 17th November, 12:00 PM Where Timed auction (Online only) Viewing 10am – 4pm weekdays - come and see them in person at Sydney Rare Book Auctions Dalgety Square at C11/372-428 Wattle Street, Ultimo, NSW 2007 Bidding absentee, on Invaluable and on our website. Absentee bids are due by email at 3pm, Friday 15th November (Sydney Time). Questions welcomed. Please get them in before 3pm, Friday 15th November (Sydney Time) Contact info@sydneyrarebookauctions.com.au 0476 765 906 ( Office )

I recently obtained a couple of letters from Walter Murdoch to Idriess from a SRB Auction, which I will reproduce here. Not everyone would be familiar with Murdoch, so here are some details: Professor Sir Walter Murdoch, 1874 to 1970, was born in Scotland. He became an English lecturer at the University of Melbourne (from which he had graduated) and then the inaugural Professor of English at the newly founded University of Western Australia in 1912. But he also found time to write essays and articles for various publications and newspapers, such as the Argus in Melbourne (where he had been a journalist) and The West Australian. He was the great uncle of media tycoon, Rupert Murdoch. He was much admired and lauded, not only in academia, but by the general public. Murdoch University in Perth (established 1974 - one hundred years after Murdoch's birth) - and my alma mater - was named after him (as was a suburb, etc). So it it very interesting that this academic is corresponding with Idriess - and rather warmly at that. The letterhead, Blithedale, South Perth, W.A., was the name of the Murdoch residence at 162 Mill Point Rd, South Perth. A metal sign with the lettering Blithedale hung on the front gate. Aug 16th 1946 Dear Mr Idriess, You can't imagine how much pleasure your note gave me [presumably Idriess wrote a note or letter to Murdoch]. I get all sorts of discouragement from all sorts of people. To be praised by a fellow-craftsman, whose work one has known and admired for years [high praise in turn from Murdoch. I will endeavour to view the Walter Murdoch collection at Murdoch Uni and see if any Idriess books are in it!], is encouragement to last for the rest of my writing life - which won't be very long now [except it was - Murdoch wrote almost up until his death 24 years later]. You and I were once up for judgment in the same dock, with Hartley Grattan indulging us both [Grattan was an American professor and an expert in 20th century Australian history. He wrote an article about Murdoch and Idriess in the New York Times Literary Supplement in about 1940 called Two Scotsmen - perhaps half right with this title!]. I noted your excellent reply to him in the papers [not sure when or which papers]. For myself I didn't think him worth replying to, after you had dealt with him. Be sure to let me know when you are next coming to Perth. We ought to meet [not sure if they ever did - does anyone know?]. Yours sincerely Walter Murdoch Dear Idriess (May I drop the 'Mr'? And will you please drop the 'Professor'? - a name I've always disliked.) I'm just going into hospital for an operation which the doctors tell me is more or less serious [not sure what this operation was for]; on my way to it, I must write a line to thank you for your letter [perhaps in reply to Murdoch's August letter, above], which interested me greatly because it shed light on how a writer gets 'style', and bore me out in my opinion, now very old, that the best way to acquire 'style', is to forget all about it. I have long admired your style and am glad to know that you have got it without worrying about it. Carry on. Yours sincerely Walter Murdoch