The Dreamtime

Children’s Books Australiana Antiquarian & Collectable

The Dreamtime pairs Charles Mountford’s authoritative text with Ainslie Roberts’s luminous paintings to retell Australia’s Aboriginal creation stories for young-adult and adult readers alike. This vintage Rigby hardcover belongs to The First Sunrise series, a collectible imprint celebrating Indigenous culture and art.

Every spread is fully illustrated, and the sturdy, jacketed boards feel made for repeated browsing. One copy carries a neat gift inscription, adding a personal touch without claiming author signatures; the other volume shows light foxing to the top edge, noted for completeness.

Expect gently scuffed jackets and minor shelving wear—nothing that distracts from the rich colour plates inside. A dog-eared publication page is the only internal blemish, while page-block rubbing is minimal and common for this 1970s Australian printing.

Collectors of Aboriginal folklore, art lovers, and anyone seeking authentic Indigenous stories will welcome this scarce hardcover edition. Secure a tangible piece of Dreaming mythology before it disappears into private collections.