Antique Maps & Prints of Natural History, Botanicals, & More
Lot 724:
Description
This historic engraving is from William Ellis’s "Narrative of a tour Through Hawaii, or Owhyhee; With Observations On The Natural History of the Sandwich Islands, and Remarks on the Manners, Customs, Traditions, History, and Language of their Inhabitants". This is from the third, expanded edition published in London by H. Fisher in 1827.
"The Narrative of English missionary William Ellis is particularly important, as it was the first book written about the Hawaiian Islands and the first serious notice of the islands since Captain Cook’s discovery of them forty-eight years earlier. It may be called the first scientific book on Hawaii: although its main purpose was to report on mission progress, and Ellis was primarily interested in local manners and traditions, he was sufficiently expansive to include observations on such natural and cultural history topics as volcanoes, antiquities, and the anthropology of the islands." (Hill 191)
William Ellis (1794-1872) was a British missionary and writer. He set up the first printing press in the South Seas. He also printed the first Hawaiian book in 1823, a hymnal. "[ Narrative of a tour Through Hawaii, or Owhyhee] was the first book written about the Hawaiian Islands and the first serious notice of the islands since Captain Cook’s discovery of them forty-eight years earlier. It may be called the first scientific book on Hawaii (…)." (Hill 545)
Paper Size: ~ 8 1/8" by 5 1/4"
Paper Type or Special Features: Engraving with Professional Hand-coloring
Condition report:
The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. There may be a few minor marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.
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