Books and the Friendly Road

Alfred Hamish Reed (1875-1975) was a notable New Zealand bookseller, publisher, writer, and philanthropist, but is perhaps best remembered in his later years as a long-distance walker who became somewhat of a national folk icon.

A.H. Reed, as he was widely known, was also one of the Dunedin Public Library’s major donors. In 1948, he gifted his valuable collection of rare books and manuscripts, which included Bibles, autograph letters, and the Samuel Johnson and Charles Dickens collections.

It was to be known as the Alfred and Isabel Reed Collection and was made over to the City of Dunedin by deed of gift dated 16 January 1948.

In 2025, the Dunedin Public Libraries’ Heritage Collections commemorates Reed’s 150th birthday with a FREE biographical exhibition Books and the Friendly Road: Celebrating 150 Years of A.H. Reed, which runs 9 May - 14 September in the Reed Gallery, 3rd Floor, City Library.