Before Time Began by Charles P. Mountford

Before Time Began

Legends of the Dreamtime

by Charles P. Mountford

Thomas Nelson, 1976, [First Edition], ISBN 017005070X, colour reproduction plates throughout, two-page illustrated title page, hardcover, dustjacket

Good Condition, some edge and shelf wear, some rubbing and bumping to edges and corners, previous owners stamp on front endpaper, crumpling to bottom of text block with watermarks to covers and endpapers, dustjacket shows some edge and shelf wear with some lifting to laminate, crumpling and water marks to reverse of jacket (see photographs)

“Before Time Began is the culmination of a lifetime’s experience.  Spectacular finger paintings and bark paintings collected by C. P. Mountford on two of his expeditions illustrate this collection of 23 myths, retold with all the respect, love and insight which he has for the aboriginal people of Australia.
We learn of the creation of the world, the spirit children, the Pleiades and their lovers, and much more.  Contained in these myths are immutable laws laid down by the mythological people of the dreamtime which have been transmitted from one generation to the next for countless centuries and belong to the everyday life of the tribe.”