Religion

Important Voyage Account – The Voyage of the Duff to the South Sea Islands – Captain James Wilson – First edition 1799

Full title … A Missionary Voyage to the Southern Pacific Ocean Performed in the Years 1796, 1797, 1798, in the Ship Duff, Commanded by Captain James Wilson. Compiled from Journals of the Officers and the Missionaries; and Illustrated with Maps, Charts and Views drawn by Mr William Wilson, and engraved by the most eminent Artists. With a Preliminary Discourse on the Geography and History of the South Sea Islands; and an Appendix, including details never before published, of the Natural and Civil State of Otaheite.

Several neat manuscript corrections to names, places and dates in such a manner that the book, at one time, must have been in the hands of someone intimately involved in the adventures, if not a member of the exploring group. Add’s a touch of class and intrigue.

Printed by Gosnell for Publisher T. Chapman, Fleet Street, London 1799. Large quarto, the wide margin version. 420 pages after preliminaries and before substantial and distinguished subscribers list. With seven folded engraved maps and six beautifully engraved plates. Rebound at some time in half crimson morocco over matching red cloth covered boards, headband, top edge freshly gilt; a very professional job. Overall a very good solid copy..

An early voyage to the Pacific, undertaken for the purpose of establishing a mission in Tahiti. A settlement of was formed with twenty five members. Though the King befriended them, they met with continual difficulties due to continuous civil wars and were finally forced to flee to Australia. Though some returning some time much later in 1815. The work contains many valuable details regarding Tahiti, the Fiji Islands, Tonga, the Marquesas, etc. The discovery of a new group of islands, named the Duff Group among the Santa Cruz Islands. The narrative is full and readable with considerable valuable observation – not at all in the often dry “missionary” style. Stands, in our view, as a key read in the early Pacific Voyages genre.

The large folding “Chart of the Duff’s Track in the Pacific Ocean” was the first map to use the name Australia than New Holland.

Other important maps comprise – Feejee Islands; Marquesas Islands; Duff’s Group; Gambier Islands; Island of Otaheite and Island of Tongataboo.

Views comprise … Harbour of Rio Janeiro; Missionary Settlement at Matavai; View of Tallo Harbour; Great Morai of Oberca; Morai and Ark of the Eatooa at Attahooroo and Fiatookas of Futtasaihe.

One of classic late 18thC voyage accounts of significant exploration interest – a very good copy..

$890.00

Updating cart…

The Islands of the Pacific – from Old to New – James Alexander – First Edtion 1895

James Alexander was the son of Hawaiian missionary William P Alexander. Published by the American Tract Society, New York in 1895. A substantial work, octavo 503 pages and appendices. Illustrated throughout with nice pictorial covers in good condition.

After three chapters of general introduction there are discrete chapters on The Society Islands, Austral Islands; Peal Islands; Hawaiian Islands; The Marquesas; Harvey Islands; Samoa; Micronesia; Tonga; New Zealand; Fiji; Melanesia; Pitcairn and Norfolk. An interesting chapter in retrospect on the “Future of the Pacific Ocean”.

The appendices provide good information on the Ancient Polynesians, Languages, European Appropriations and a list of active Missionaries and where they were. The seventy illustrations include simple but useful maps, and images form early photographs albeit sometimes posed.

Alexander covers some ground … and some ocean … in this well structured and full of content book.

$70.00

Updating cart…

Lives of Twelve Good Men – John Burgon – Lavish Relfe Brothers Binding – 1891

Published by Murray, London 1891. A new edition now including portraits of each of the illustrious subjects. Large Octavo, 483 pages plus index.

Bound by Relfe Brother in full rich red polished calf with, five raised bands to spine with separate black leather title label. Gilt work to spine and board edges and gilt shield of Malvern College to front. Marbled end papers continuing to all page edges.

A superb biographical record of these influential 19th Century men …..
1. Martin Joseph Routh
2. Hugh James Rose
3. Charles Marriott
4. Edward Hawkins
5. Samuel Wilberforce
6. Richard Lynch Cotton
7. Richard Greswell
8. Henry Octavius Coxe
9. Henry Longueville Mansel
10. William Jacobson
11. Charles Page Eden
12. Charles Longuet Higgins

Relfe bookbinders were one of the great late 19thC London bookbinders servicing Royalty and all the very best establishments and posh schools and colleges.

A substantial book about substantial people!

$60.00

Updating cart…

Geology and Mineralogy – William Buckland [Considered with Reference to Natural Theology] – Published 1837

Published in London by William Pickering in 1837 – 2 Volumes complete bound in half black Morocco over marbled papered boards, gilt titles, volume numbers and designs to spine. In very good condition, the condition of the plates terrific.

Large octavo, xvi, 618 pages; vii, 129 pages, 69 plates [2 folding]

The volumes as lavishly illustrated with a famous multiple fold out plate in excess of a metre long beautifully hand coloured demonstrating various geological structures [one of the best executed coloured plates of the period.

Rev William Buckland (1784-1856) was an exceptional individual – a Fellow of the Royal Society, President of the Royal Geological Society. His interest in geology and paleontology led him to write the first full account of a fossil dinosaur which he named Megalosarurus. He discovered the Kirkdale cave and concluded that it had been a prehistoric hyena den – for which he was awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal Society. This work was written just prior to his awakening that certain geological structures and fossil remains were a result of glaciation and not the effect of floodwaters from the great deluge. Buckland was a friend of a young Charles Darwin - there must have been some very interesting conversations.

Buckland’s Great Work on Geology and Paleontology - a Voyager favourite

$440.00

Updating cart...

The Accursed Thing; or The Causes of Our Public Calamities Stated and Explained – A Sermon – Rev James Robertson – 1800

Rev James Robertson was the Presbyterian Minister in the little village of Thropton Northumberland, England. This lengthy and strangely interesting sermon was published as a pamphlet by Elder of Edinburgh and others in 1800. Octavo, 35 pages, here nicely presented in a modern protective binding. Very clean for its age and well printed. Impossible to find another one we believe.

England was at war with France … the Minister has little respect for the enemy and for others that displeased higher ruling.

His concluding comment from Isiah and Psalm 69 are pertinent to now … “Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand, for God is with us. He will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah, the posterity of his saints shall inherit it, and they that love his name shall dwell therein”

Maybe some in power around the World just need to think this through.

A Sermon with a strong message – Unique 1800

$80.00

Updating cart...

Hindu Life and Customs – The Sunwheel – Helen Gordon 1935

First edition published by King, London in 1935. The author was Lady Russell a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Octavo, 220 pages, end paper maps of South India [Northern] to front and South India [Southern] to back. Many illustrations from relevant black and white photographs [of good quality] and a few brightly coloured decorative plates – frontispiece of Arunja driving the Chariot of the Sun.

For anyone wanting a fairly thorough introduction to Hindu life and customs this is the book set out in three Parts – Plateau, Plains and Hills [incl. village life, salutation to Siva, incense rock, blue mountains]; Hindu Temples and Their Gods [incl. great festivals, cult of Minakshi, marriage of the Gods]; Hindu States and Their Rulers [incl. travels in the Land of the Celestials, birthday festivities, pantomime and dance].

The whole ends with a good bibliography for those that wish to explore further, glossary and useful index.

The Hindu World for those that wish to understand it.

$25.00

Updating cart…

Important Voyage Account – The Voyage of the Duff to the South Sea Islands – Captain James Wilson – First edition 1799

The Islands of the Pacific – from Old to New – James Alexander – First Edtion 1895

Lives of Twelve Good Men – John Burgon – Lavish Relfe Brothers Binding – 1891

Geology and Mineralogy – William Buckland [Considered with Reference to Natural Theology] – Published 1837

The Accursed Thing; or The Causes of Our Public Calamities Stated and Explained – A Sermon – Rev James Robertson – 1800

Hindu Life and Customs – The Sunwheel – Helen Gordon 1935

Product Categories