An Account of the Natives of the Tonga Islands (2 vols.)
Edinburgh: Constable, 1827. Third edition. Hardcover. Duodecimo. xxxiv, 340, 234pp., cviii. Original 3/4 morocco over green cloth with gilt lettering and tooling on spine, raised bands, and top edge gilt. Decorative marbled end papers. Frontispiece fold-out map. Engraving with tissue gard on half-title. Partition musical score with tissue gard in vol. 2. This in depth account of the "Friendly Islands" (Captain Cook) illuminates the understanding of forms of government, religions, and traditions on one hand and language, intellectual and moral character as well as ordinary discourses, sentiments and habits of the inhabitants of the Tonga Islands. John Martin edited the narration of William Mariner as presented to him after the escape Mariner's from the islands to become the most formidable account of Tonga before the arrival of Missionary Christianity. This third edition is, according to the publisher, considerably improved over the popular first and second edition. Appendix of 108 pages of Tonga grammar and vocabulary. Some rubbing and moderate abrasion at head and tail of joints and spine. Previous owner's name plates on inside covers. Hinge starting in vol. 1. Glued printed pages on marbled end papers of vol. 1 torn off with first line "Graphic Story" legible. Binding in good, interior in very good condition. vg. Item #34578
Price: $450.00