The publication of limited-edition art books in Australia underwent a remarkable flourishing in the last decades of the twentieth century. These deluxe editions, with their special bindings, were often accompanied by an original artwork.
Richard Griffin led the way in the 1970s with his new imprint Gryphon Books. He was followed by others such as Craftsman’s Press, soon to be re-named Craftsman House.
Beagle Press, established by Lou Klepac in 1980, has survived the longest. It is still publishing scholarly art books, with a small number of titles available in deluxe editions.
One of the features of the Australian Art Research Library (one of the collections which makes up the Australian Library of Art) is its comprehensive collection of deluxe and limited-edition Australian art books.
This display focusses on a selection of deluxe Australian art books published between 1980 and the present day.
DELUXE is in the Australian Library of Art Showcase, on level 4 of the State library of Queensland.
