Historical information

This book was a present from James Dickson to John Glass Cramond in 1897. These two men were business partners and friends. They established the drapery, ironmongery and clothing business of Cramond and Dickson in Warrnambool in 1855 and this business remained as an important store in Warrnambool until 1973. John Cramond was Mayor of Warrnambool from 1876 to 1877 and from 1881 to 1882.

Significance

This is a most significant item as it belonged to a prominent Warrnambool man and was given to him by another prominent Warrnambool citizen. The store of Cramond and Dickson was one of the best-known and most important shop in Warrnambool for nearly 120 years.

Physical description

This is a brown leather-bound book with a red lining on the inside cover. The book has 900 pages and was printed in 1893. The contents include an English Grammar, an English Dictionary, the population of European Capitals, a list of Cities and Towns in Britain, a list of Animal, Vegetable and Mineral productions, a list of Proverbs, a Law Dictionary, a Compendium of Modern History and the Coronets of Princes of the Blood and of the Peerage. The printed material has two columns per page. The cover is somewhat scuffed and the red lined-page is ragged (silverfish damage?).

Inscriptions & markings

‘Mr J.G. Cramond from James Dickson, 5 May 1897’
Warrnambool and District Historical Society stamp , W.B. 124