Name

Robert Carl Sticht

Culture

American | Australian

Gender

Male

Birth date

8 October 1856

Birth place

Hoboken, New Jersey, United States of America View on map Close map

Death date

30 April 1922

Death Place

Launceston, Tasmania, Australia View on map Close map

Movements

Australia from 1895

Occupations

Book collector | Engineer | Print collector

Summary

Worked: Australia (TAS).

Context

Australia

Biography

Born in America Sticht trained as a metallurgical engineer and was recruited to work for the Mt Lyell Mining and Railway Company of Australia at Mt Lyall on the west coast of Tasmania. By 1897 he was general manager. He began collecting old master prints and drawings and rare books and printing in the early 1900s - most purchases being made before the start of world War 1. The major sources for his acquisitions were the Melbourne antique dealer Frank E. Godden and the London print dealer James Tregaskis. His collection was large and wide ranging, but only a few items were of exceptional quality.

On his death in 1922 The Felton Bequest purchased the prints and drawings for the National Gallery of Victoria and the rare books and manuscripts went to the State Library of Victoria. His large reference library was sold by Albert Spencer at the Hill of Content bookshop in Melbourne.
[Roger Butler, 2025].

Last Updated

27 Mar 2025