Charles Burnett is Professor of the History of Islamic Influences in Europe in the School of Advanced Study at the Warburg Institute; he has written extensively on medieval scientific treatises and translations from Latin to Arabic.

Shane Carmody is Director of Collections and Access at the State Library of Victoria; he has written definitive articles about the history of the Collection.

Ian Cox is a Book Conservator in the Collection, Preservation, and Access Division of the State Library of Victoria.

John Crossley is an Emeritus Professor at the Clayton School of Information Technology, Monash University; he has published widely in the history of mathematics.

Louise d'Arcens teaches in the English Literatures Program at the University of Wollongong; she has written about medievalism in Australia, and is co-editor of a collection of essays called Maistresse of My Wit: Medieval Women, Modern Scholars (Brepols).

Ted Gott is Senior Curator of International Art at the National Gallery of Victoria; in 2008 he has curated the Modern Britain 1900-1960 exhibition.

Andrew Lynch teaches medieval and modern literature in English, Communications and Cultural Studies at the University of Western Australia; he has published extensively on the work of Thomas Malory.

David McKitterick is a Fellow and Librarian of Trinity College, University of Cambridge; his many published works include contributions to The Cambridge History of the Book in Britain. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and Vice-President of the Bibliographical Society.

Libby Melzer is a Paper Conservator at The Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation at The University of Melbourne.

Stephanie Trigg is a Professor in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne; she is editor of Medievalism and the Gothic in Australian Culture (Melbourne University Press), and has written about other areas of medieval studies.

was established in 1994 to raise funds to support the State Library of Victoria. It encourages and promotes private philanthropy and corporate sponsorship for State Library projects, including preservation of Victoria's cultural heritage, conservation of valuable collections, acquisitions of items of historical significance, and delivery of educational programs and research services to the community.

Anyone interested in the vital work of the Foundation can assist by becoming a Foundation member or donor.

Member: $75 per year (GST included)

Upon payment of the $75 membership fee, members are entitled to become Bookplate donors by making the following donations. Membership fee and donation may be paid as a single payment. All donations are tax deductible.

In addition to member benefits, Bookplate donors are acknowledged by special bookplates in books selected from the Library's recent acquisitions.

The Foundation reviews benefits regularly and keeps members updated. Currently discounts are being offered to Foundation members by:

For further information or to join the Foundation, telephone 03 8664 7280, email [email protected] or visit the State Library website slv.vic.gov.au.

Principal Patron: Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, AC, DBE

Executive Director: Morton Browne

Executive: Peter Lothian (Chairman), Martin Armstrong, John Arnold, John Cain (President, State Library Board of Victoria), Dr Anne Colman, Andrew Coloretti, Arturo Gandioli Fumagalli, Kerry Gillespie, Gary Graco, Julie Kantor, Stephen Kerr, Robert Lang, Andrew Little, John Mortimore, David Mullaly, Maria Myers AO, Susie Reece Jones, Anne-Marie Schwirtlich ( Chief Executive Officer and State Librarian)

This large issue of the Journal is part of a programme of events and publications focused on The Medieval Imagination, an important State Library of Victoria exhibition of manuscripts from the University of Cambridge and its colleges, and from collections in Australia and New Zealand. Most of the distinguished contributions in this extended issue of the Journal have connections with manuscripts and early books held by the Library (some of which are part of the exhibition), and with the two equestrian sculptures which flank the Swanston Street entrance. Other essays relate to ideas of the medieval in colonial Australian culture. The Journal is fortunate to have as its opening essay an extended version of the 2008 Foxcroft Lecture, given by Professor David McKitterick, Fellow and Librarian of Trinity College, Cambridge.