Books: Te Ika A Maui; or, New Zealand and its Inhabitants, Lower Hutt in Lower Hutt, Wellington for sale
Disbound. Text block detached from boards. Spine cloth missing except for small fragment. Ex-library,"The Coronation Public Library Gore". Library rubber stamps. Library markings including card pocket. This copy would be suitable for rebinding. In its favour as a desirable copy is the inscription by the author, and the very attractive true-to-life colouring of the 8 plates. Most New Zealanders will be familiar with many of the illustrated animals - the huhu beetle, the black diamond or magpie moth, the red admiral butterfly, the kakapo and the pukeko. The colour plates also include illustrations of the Basket Fungus, the Stinkhorn Fungus, native snails, a Kahikatea frond, and several other plant species. ; This copy with the 8 magnificently hand-coloured plates (more commonly found in the uncoloured state). This copy inscribed by the author:"Miss Foss[?] with the author's kindest regards". Title continues:"Illustrating the Origin, Manners, Customs, Mythology, Religion, Rites, Songs, Proverbs, Fables, and Language of the Natives. Together with the Geology, Natural History, Productions, and Climate of the Country; Its State as regards Christianity; Sketches of the Principal Chiefs, and their Present Position; With a Map, and numerous illustrations."xiv, 490 pages + frontispiece + 6 pages advertisements + 1 b&w plate + 8 colour plates + numerous small in-text engraved vignette illustrations. Blind-stamped green cloth boards. Page dimensions: 222 x 141mm. Pat Lawlor includes this title in his 1948 list of"The Best New Zealand Books: A List for Libraries Students and Collectors". I would also include a copy of this title with the coloured plates in my own personal list of the best New Zealand books. [References: Bagnall 5481 -"Although Contents p. [xiii] designates the 8 plates between p. 462 and [463] as"Colored"[sic], only about one quarter of copies examined have them in coloured state"; Hocken 182]. ; 8vo 8"- 9"tall
Author
Richard Taylor
Title
Te Ika A Maui; or, New Zealand and its Inhabitants
Publisher name
Wertheim and Macintosh, London
Shipping time
2 - 5 days
Publication year
1855
Edition
First edition
Listing condition
Used
Item condition
Poor
Vendor name
Renaissance Books
Vendor rating
Abebof326d