The Alexander Turnbull Library has successfully out-bid international competition to keep two Persian manuscripts in New Zealand.
One of the country's finest book collections, assembled by British-born librarian Edward Simpson who died in Wellington in 1979, was auctioned on Wednesday.
Auctioneers Dunbar Sloane offered 178 lots, including many works produced between the 15th and 18th centuries.
The Alexander Turnbull Library, based in Wellington, paid $NZ60,000 and $54,000 for two antique Persian manuscripts, illustrated in gold and colour.
An original page from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales sold for $7000.
