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When F.F. Baillière arrived in Melbourne in 1860, there was a well-established book trade largely due to the wealth gold had brought to the colony. Baillière, like most members of the book trade, was both a bookseller and publisher.¹

Unfortunately very few book trade archives have survived from that period. Work by Kirsop has helped us to gain a picture of the period.² Ian Morrison's useful new work has also provided much valuable information.³

Two years after Baillière's arrival the Sands & Kenny Directory lists Baillière and thirty-eight other 'Booksellers and Stationers' in Melbourne. Of these, sixteen were also involved in publishing. George Robertson (1825-1898), Samuel Mullen (1828-1890), Henry Tolman Dwight (1823?-1871) and E.W. Cole (1832-1918) were the key players in the period, all being successful booksellers and publishers whose activities have been documented. Baillière too was a successful publisher and to a lesser extent bookseller but I would argue that he stands apart from the others. This is due to his international family connections, his claiming to be Publisher-In-Ordinary to the Victorian government , the fact that his career led him to court and to his specialization in medical publishing, publishing gazetteers and directories and publishing notable colonists of Victoria. It is with these aspects of his career that I wish to deal with briefly today.

Baillière was born in London but he was the descendant of a French bookselling and publishing family, who in the nineteenth century had international links.⁴ He was born at 219 Regent Street London on 11 July 1838. This was the address of the bookshop his father Hippolyte commenced to run in that year.⁵ Hippolyte's brother Jean-Baptiste had founded of the business in Beauvais, France. Moving to Paris he concentrated on selling medical books, having located his business on rue Hautefeuille, near the Medical Faculty. The business moved into publishing and medical books are still published under the Baillière name by Saunders who are owned in turn by the giant Harcourt Brace .

The British Library has catalogues produced by J.B. Baillière at 219 Regent Street in April 1830, August 1831, March 1833 and March 1838.

As well as London and Paris the family had established businesses in Madrid, New York and Baltimore. City directories in the New York Public Library reveal a Baillière in business on Broadway from 1851 until 1868. Catalogues were also issued in New York in the eighteen-fifties. The papers of the English company Baillière Tindall and Cox (1870-1910) are located at the Publishers Archives at the University of Reading. Their examination may be a future project. With businesses in five countries, they were certainly a multi-national business ahead of their time. The activities of the Teggs in Australia and England and the Rivingtons in England and North America were to some extent similar to the Baillières .

Ferdinand Baillière was only twenty-two when he left Liverpool on 6 August 1860 for Australia arriving in Melbourne on 30 October. Despite his youth he brought with him a well-established tradition and a background of book trade experience.

This paper focuses on Baillière as publisher. I will, however, comment briefly on his role as bookseller to 'Marvellous Melbourne'. It has been noted he sold to the Melbourne literary figure James Smith. He advertised in his own The Medical and Surgical Review.

Only three catalogues of F.F.Baillière's can be traced. One was produced in 1862 (numbered II). Another, appeared as a supplement in The Medical and Surgical Review, February 1864, Numbered "III". It is entitled A Catalogue of British and Foreign Medical & Other Scientific Books, at London Prices Nett. The third is titled F.F. Baillière's Catalogue of British, American, Foreign, New and Standard Works, (Ferguson 6520) it is undated. The small note in the Sydney Bulletin on Baillière's death makes some reference to his role in the Melbourne book world. He was described as 'quite "a character" in the Victorian metropolis. A few years ago his "den" as he used to call it, was the constant resort of many of the literary and medical celebrities of the city.'⁶ Baillière also supplied the University of Melbourne in its early days and the State Library of Victoria in the 1870s. As well he sold second hand books, medical equipment, medical practices and was at one stage a shipping agent.

Baillière's first Melbourne address was 51 Temple Court. Within a few months he had moved to 85 Collins Street East, previously the address of George Robertson. In 1865 Baillière moved his business to 104 Collins Street where it remained until he died.

On 21 December 1861 Baillière married Sophie Frederica Medex at St Kilda. They had two children.

Landsborough's Expedition from Carpentaria, in Search of Burke and Wills (Baillière edition not in Ferguson) was one of Baillière's earliest publications. Published in 1862 the imprint of this book lists London, Paris, New York and Madrid. It is unlikely many other Australian publishers at that time could boast such international connections. (Ferguson 9895) . In 1863 Baillière published J.McDouall Stuart's Explorations across the Continent of Australia with Charts 1861-62. This publication is important. A close examination of the imprint reveals, 'F. F. Baillière Publisher in Ordinary to the Victorian Government.' Within three years of his arrival in the colony Baillière had become the government publisher, or made claim to be as no official record of his appointment can be found. The contemporary press made comment on it. The Australasian 26 May 1880 reported: 'We believe that Mr. Baillière claims to be a publisher to the government. We do not know the exact nature of his duties, or how often, and in what cases, his services are called into requisition. But we trust that the Treasurer will be on his guard in dealing with such an accomplished artist.' There is some implication here of mistrust about the position.

Yet strangely, not all his publications claim this status. Another title, which does claim government publishing status is McKinlay's Journal of Exploration in the Interior of Australia (Burke Relief Expedition), (Ferguson 12057) published in 1863. Baillière published over fifty works, yet only six titles, other than gazetteers and directories, that I could identify, reveal proclaim his official status. In a direct link with the government Baillière published in 1863 The Electoral Act. (Ferguson 17787) Oddly, there is no mention of Baillière as Publisher-in-Ordinary however, 'by Authority John Ferres Government Printer' appears. The Mines of South Australia by J.B. Austin (Baillière edition not in Ferguson)also lists Baillière as Publisher-in-Ordinary. Baillière's first Australian medical publication, The Medical and Surgical Review, which he published in 1863 also made claim to government patronage. It is mostly in his earliest publications that Baillière claims to be government publisher. Stationery also affirms Baillière's status.

Marcus Clarke's History of the Continent of Australia (Ferguson 8323) (1877) and The Chinese Question in Australia. (Ferguson 8130) (1879) also have imprints listing Baillière as Publisher-In-Ordinary.

The Journal of Landsborough's Expedition, The 1863 Electoral Act and The Mines of South Australia, are all listed in Ferguson with publishers other than Baillière, which may indicate that Baillière was acting as a distributor rather than publisher. This is very likely in the case of books printed by the Government Printer.⁷ The whole issue of publishing and distribution during this period certainly needs closer examination. It was Baillière's role as Publisher-in-Ordinary and his association with the government that were to later involve him in a situation which practically led to his downfall.

Baillière also claimed to be Publisher-in-Ordinary in some of the gazetteers and directories he published. The production of gazetteers and directories were virtually a staple in colonial publishing. His Victorian Gazetteer and Road Guide (Ferguson 6528) was published in 1865, proclaiming him Publisher in Ordinary. The Argus and The Age of the time both contained favourable reviews and it was reviewed in a considerable number of country newspapers. Further Victorian gazetteers were published in 1870 and 1879.

Robert Whitworth compiled the first gazetteers.⁸ Whitworth had a varied career as a horse-breaker, journalist, and actor, before he came to Melbourne in 1864, where he worked for The Argus, The Age and The Daily Telegraph. He has been described as a 'boon companion' of Marcus Clarke's, with whom Baillière became associated.⁹

Gazetteers were subsequently published for New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania. They were referred to by Baillière in his advertisements as 'Colonial Works of Reference.'

In 1867 the first of what was to be commonly known as 'the Baillière's' was published. This was The Official Post Office Directory of New South Wales (Baillière's). (Ferguson 6522) It was 'Compiled by Authority' and displayed the Royal Arms on the title-page. The following year The Official Post Office Directory of Victoria (Baillière's) (Ferguson 6529) was published. It too was 'Compiled by Authority' and displayed the Royal Arms. The directories were produced in Victoria from 1868 until 1880 (Baillière died in 1881). An Official Post Office Directory of Queensland appeared in 1874. (Ferguson 6524) The State Library of Victoria reproduced the Victorian Post Office Directories in 1982, a testament to their research value.

Publication by Baillière of his gazetteers and directories gave him credibility and respectability in the Melbourne publishing world, especially in the light of his association with the notorious Dr. Beaney, which will be discussed later. They certainly made a significant contribution to publishing in the colonies in the nineteenth century.

Baillière commenced his medical publications with The Medical and Surgical Review later sub-titled 'a monthly journal of British and foreign medical literature criticism and news.' It ran from 1863 until 1866. A new series commenced in 1873 but ceased publication the following year. Baillière's was not the only medical journal of the period. The Australian Medical Journal and The Melbourne Medical Record both opposed the views of The Medical Record of Australia. It was owned and edited by Dr C.E. Reeves, known as 'a friend and supporter'¹⁰ of Doctor George Beaney, 'surgeon, politician and philanthropist'¹¹ who was to have a considerable impact on Baillière's life.¹² Beaney (1828-1891) qualified as a surgeon in Edinburgh and from 1857 he rapidly established himself as a prominent surgeon. He was appointed honorary surgeon to the Melbourne Hospital in 1860.

In 1859 he wrote Original Contributions to the Practice of Conservative Surgery, (Ford 191) considered to be 'one of the first medical books published in Australia.'¹³ It was published by George Robertson. However, it was Baillière who was to become strongly associated with Beaney's medical works.

Beaney was tried in 1866 for the murder of a barmaid, who had died following an illegal abortion. The jury failed to agree and he was retried and acquitted the second time. Considerable criticism was made by Beaney and others of 'the unsatisfactory medical testimony for the Crown.'¹⁴ Beaney's response, Dr. Beaney's Vindication: with Reflections on the Inquest held upon the body of Mary Lewis, came in the same year. (Ferguson 6824). The trial not only brought to light the first of Beaney's somewhat questionable medical and ethical practices, but also revealed the faction-fighting, petty squabbling and corruption of the Melbourne medical profession.

In 1872 Baillière published Beaney's The Generative System and its functions in Health and Disease. Beaney's Children: their treatment in Health and Disease was published by Baillière in 1873.

In 1876 Beaney was again in court following the death of a patient during Lithotomy. In response to this case Baillière published Beaney's Doctors Differ: a lecture delivered at the Melbourne Athenaeum (Ferguson 6826) In this work Beaney attacked his opponents over the criticism he had received in the lithotomy inquest. Further works of Beaney's were published by Baillière: Surgical Diagnosis: a Lecture (1877); The History and Progress of Surgery (Ferguson 6828); and Diseases of the hip-joint (1878).

Beaney had written at least 20 books on medicine and surgery, all published in Melbourne. Of these Baillière had published eight. Yet their relationship was important and integral to Baillière's publishing career. In May 1880, in what could be considered a surprise action, Baillière took Beaney to court. The Melbourne Argus reported it over three days¹⁵ and the Medical Society of Victoria reprinted the trial in a pamphlet called The Medical Embassy to England.¹⁶ Baillière claimed £650 damages from Beaney. £400 was for a commission Baillière claimed he had obtained for Beaney, the rest for publishing expenses and printing costs for a sale he arranged of Beaney's possessions. In April 1878 Beaney had planned to visit Europe. Baillière obtained an official government commission for him .

Beaney had travelled to Europe with a letter from the Premier, Graham Berry, dated 20 June 1878. Beaney was well received in Europe on the strength of this letter. On his return, as he had refused to pay Baillière for the commission. Even Beaney's enemies would hardly have expected what the trial revealed. Claims and counter-claims were made between Beaney and Baillière. Although Baillière lost the case but must have been satisfied with the damage he had done Beaney for he exposed Beaney as a charlatan. Yet it appears that Baillière had in fact organized writers for Beaney's works and promoted his dubious causes.
Baillière also published medical works by other authors.
Baillière certainly carried on the publishing tradition of his forebears with his strong link with the medical world. In Melbourne it brought him notoriety and may possibly have led to his failure in the book trade, if it had not been for his untimely death.

Just as Baillière specialised in publishing gazetteers and directories, he also specialised in publishing authors who were of some importance in the colony. They included literary, scientific and political figures. Time restrictions mean I will only mention a small number. A complete list of titles can be found in my checklist.

In 1872 he published R. Brough Smyth's Prospector's Handbook. (Ferguson 15880) Smyth (1830-1889) was a fellow of the Geological Society and became the first secretary of the Board of Science in 1858.¹⁷

Baillière published Richard Daintree's (1832-1878) Report on the Geology of the District from Bacchus Marsh to Bass's Straits. (Ferguson 8914) Daintree was a pioneer geologist and surveyor with the Geological Survey. He was also interested in photography and in 1857 he had collaborated with the noted early colonial photographer Antoine Fauchery and produced Australia.

Thomas A'Beckett (1836-1919) was from a well-known Melbourne legal family. In 1867 Baillière published his Introduction and Notes to the Transfer of Land Statute of Victoria.

In 1875 he published Photographs of the Pictures in the Melbourne National Gallery, (not in Ferguson) which was edited by Marcus Clarke. This work is important in the context of nineteenth-century Melbourne publishing and equally important in the context of Baillière's work.¹⁸ It is one of the earliest catalogues depicting pictorial aspects of an Australian gallery collection.

By 1873 a separate picture gallery had been constructed at the Victorian Public Library and Museum. The new gallery was popular and public pressure for illustrative material lead the Trustees presided over by Redmond Barry¹⁹ to commission a collection of photographs which Baillière was chosen to publish. It was advertised in The Medical and Surgical Review of 1 October 1873 and in subsequent numbers. Initially it sold in monthly supplements. The book was a publishing success. But it was a double success for Baillière as it linked him with two colonial notables Marcus Clarke and Redmond Barry.

A further publication of Baillière's was edited by Clarke, History of the Continent of Australia and the Island of Tasmania, (Ferguson 8323), a school text, published in 1877.

In 1800 Baillière was associated with another of Marcus Clarke's works: Civilization without Delusion. (Ferguson 8324) Baillière appears as the publisher on the title page of third work, yet Clarke had had this work printed at his own cost to defend criticism made of him. In this instance, Baillière could be more accurately described as the distributor.

Baillière published John O'Shanassy's Primary Education in Victoria (Ferguson 13669) in 1878. O'Shanassy was a colourful political figure of the time, a sometime premier he was anti-squatting, a defender of miners' rights and bicameral legislature. This work defended state aid for government schools.

If Baillière had intended to publish more from the pen of the colony's luminaries we will never know. His bookselling and publishing career came to a sudden halt just one year after the celebrated court case, as he was killed in a railway accident.²⁰ The note on his death in the Bulletin gave him some recognition as a person of importance in the colony. Describing his role in the Melbourne book world it commented, 'His recent law-suit with the well-known Doctor Beaney, and the disclosure made during its progress, are doubtless fresh in the public mind. Mr. Baillière had not prospered in a worldly sense, and was in difficulties some time ago; but his last smash, poor fellow, was the worst of all.'²¹

Baillière had been entrepreneurial and innovative reflecting the spirit of the boom city that Melbourne had become at that time. Within twenty short years Baillière sometime Publisher-in-Ordinary to the Government, member of an international business, publisher of gazetteers and directories, medical publisher, collaborator with the notorious Beaney, publisher of a variety of works by notable men of the colony, and bookseller had played a significant and hitherto unrecognised role in the Melbourne book trade.²²

Notes

1. For more information regarding Baillière see L. Clark 'Aspects of Melbourne book trade history: innovation and specialisation in the careers of F.F. Baillière and Margareta Webber', M.A., Centre for Bibliographical and Textual Studies, Monash University, 1997, and forthcoming publication by Mulini Press.
2. See W. Kirsop, Books for Colonial Readers, and W. Kirsop, 'Bookselling and publishing in the nineteenth century' in D.H. Borchardt and W. Kirsop, The Book in Australia: Essays towards a Cultural and Social History, Melbourne, Australian Reference Publications in association with the Centre for Bibliographical and Textual Studies, Monash University, 1988.
3. I. Morrison, The Publishing Industry in Colonial Australia: a name index to John Alexander Ferguson's 'Bibliography of Australia 1784-1900', Melbourne, Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand, 1996.
4. For fuller biographical details on the Baillière family and publishing in France, see J. Rosemberg, 'Studies on the French Presence in Australia', Minor thesis submitted in partial fulfilment for M.A., Monash University, 1985.
5. P. Brown, London Publishers and Printers c1800-1870, London, British Library, 1982, p. 7.
6. Bulletin, 3 September 1881, p. 13.
7. For details of the role of the Government Printer during this period see T. Cavanagh, 'The Victorian Government Printer and Early Scientific Publishing in Victoria: Ferdinand Von Mueller, the Royal Society and R. Brough Smyth', Riverina Library Review, vol. 5, no. 4, November 1988, p. 263, and T. Cavanagh, 'The Victorian Government Printing Office; its early history and its publications', The Australian Library Journal, November 1989, p. 282.
8. Australian Dictionary of Biography, (ADB) vol 6, 1851-1890, R-Z, Carlton, Melbourne University Press, 1976, p. 395. Victor Crittenden has argued that Whitworth has been overlooked in his contribution to nineteenth-century Australian literature. See V. Crittenden, 'Who was Robert Whitworth?', Margin, no. 35, April 1995, pp.2-6.
9. ADB vol. 6, p.395.
10. B. Gandevia, 'A review of Victoria's early medical journals', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. II, no. 6, August 1952, p. 184.
11. ADB vol. 3, 1851-1890, A-C, p. 124.
12. For fuller biographical details of Beaney and his relationship with the medical world, as well as an excellent background to the medical world of that period see H. Love, James Edward Neil: Victorian Virtuoso, Carlton, Melbourne University Press, 1989.
13. ADB vol. 3, p. 125.
14. ADB vol. 3, p. 125.
15. The Argus, 26, 27 and 28 May 1880.
16. The Medical Embassy to England: being a report of the trial Baillière v. Beaney: in the Supreme Court, Melbourne: May 1880: (Reprinted from the Argus): with some comments of the press thereon, Melbourne, Medical Society of Victoria, 1880. This pamphlet also includes reports of the case from The Age, 28 May 1880, Melbourne Daily Telegraph, 29 May 1880 and Australasian, 29 May 1880.
17. For biographical details see ADB, vol. 6, p. 161. The Smyth papers are in the La Trobe Library.
18. See A. Galbally, 'The lost museum: Redmond Barry and Melbourne's Musèe des Copies', Australian Journal of Art, vol. vii, 1988, p. 29; T. Bonyhady, Images in Opposition: Australian landscape painting 1801-1890, Melbourne, Oxford University Press, 1986; R. Holden, Photography in Colonial Australia: the Mechanical Eye and the Illustrated Book, Sydney, Hordern House, 1988.
19. For full biographical details of Barry see A. Galbally, Redmond Barry: an Anglo-Irish Australian, Carlton, Melbourne University Press, 1995. 20. The Argus, 31 August 1881.
20. Bulletin, 3 September 1881, p. 13.

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