Antiquarian Book Monthly & Biblionews
2001
Review by Colin Steele, The Australian National University Library, Canberra, Australia.
Reprinted by kind permission of the author.
The first volume of David Forbes's Hawaiian National Bibliography 1780-1900 appeared in 1999 and was universally acclaimed as an outstanding bibliography of Hawaiiana and won the Modern Language Association prize for Distinguished Bibliography. As before the Bibliography contains extensive details including all known editions, collation and historical annotations. Black and white illustrations complement the well set out text in two colours.
The second volume covers the period 1831-1850 when Hawaii established its form of monarchical government and covers a fascinating period in its history under Kamehameha III who attained his majority in 1831. Particular attention is paid in this period to listing of all the printed Hawaiian documents which appeared in a variety of forms such as broadsides and offprints of government newspapers. The listing from 1845 of the Hawaiian government reports is particularly relevant as many were ephemeral items, as were the broadside announcements and programs for public servants such as theatre and the circus. As before Forbes has attempted wherever possible to examine at least one copy of each item listed.
These two volumes to date already constitute an invaluable reference resource on Hawaii. The third volume is scheduled for publication later this year and the fourth and final volume is in preparation. The Bibliography should be in all major research collections which have an interest in the area in particular and the Pacific in general.