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Polynesian Researches, during a residence of nearly six years in the South Sea Islands; including descriptions of the natural history and scenery of the islands - with remarks on the history, mythology, traditions, government, arts, manners, and customs of the inhabitants

Polynesian Researches, during a residence of nearly six years in the South Sea Islands; including descriptions of the natural history and scenery of the islands - with remarks on the history, mythology, traditions, government, arts, manners, and customs of the inhabitants

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Polynesian Researches, during a residence of nearly six years in the South Sea Islands; including descriptions of the natural history and scenery of the islands - with remarks on the history, mythology, traditions, government, arts, manners, and customs of the inhabitants

by ELLIS, William

  • Used
Condition
Some light staining around the plates as often, both frontispieces lightly offset onto title-pages; otherwise a fine copy.
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About This Item

London: Fisher, Son & Jackson, 1829. Some light staining around the plates as often, both frontispieces lightly offset onto title-pages; otherwise a fine copy.. Two volumes, octavo, with portrait of Pomare, two folding maps, seven engraved plates and 16 wood engravings; handsome contemporary binding of half brown morocco gilt, all edges marbled with matching endpapers.

First edition: a handsomely bound copy of one of the most important works on the history and ethnology of the Society Islands, by one of the most perceptive of the missionary travellers in the Pacific. This is 'une des sources les plus abondantes pour l'histoire de l'ancien Tahiti...' (O'Reilly-Reitman). Forbes notes that "there are occasional references and comparisons between Tahiti and the Hawaiian Islands throughout the text, all the more important since Ellis was a resident of both island groups". Robert Southey, who reviewed it on publication, enthused that "a more interesting book we have never perused"

The work begins with Ellis' account of his voyage in which he visited Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, and New Zealand. He was in Tahiti from 1816 to 1822, during which time very little seems to have escaped his notice. A very popular and influential work, its publication 'went far to redeem the character of missionaries in the eyes of those who had thought of them as ignorant and narrow minded men' (Hill). After his time in Tahiti Ellis went on to Hawaii; he published his works on both islands once he was back in England.

. Provenance: Bryan Ricco Cooper (1884-1930), Irish politician, writer and landowner from Markree Castle, County Sligo, Ireland, and descendants; Francis Edwards (London dealer, in 1954); French collector (with knowledgeable note in pencil); Hordern House, Sydney; R. David Parsons (Collector, Atlanta, Georgia).

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Hordern House Rare Books

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About the Seller

Hordern House Rare Books

Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Biblio member since 2009
Surry Hills, New South Wales

About Hordern House Rare Books

Hordern House, founded by Anne McCormick and Derek McDonnell in 1985 and named for our original building in Sydney's Potts Point, is an internationally renowned dealership, specialising in rare books, manuscripts and paintings.Nowadays we conduct our business in the heart of Surry Hills, five minutes from the centre of Sydney. We occupy an entire floor of a converted warehouse where we have created a customised environment for our work and the display of rare books, manuscripts & paintings.Always reflected in our extensive stock of rare and select material is our specialization in voyages and travels (with a special interest in the Pacific & Australia), natural history and colour-plate material, paintings and voyage art, historical maps and manuscripts.

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Edges
The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
New
A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
Fine
A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
Gilt
The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
Offset
A technique of printing where the inked image or text is ...
Morocco
Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
Octavo
Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...

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