Hawaiian National Bibliography 1780-1900.
Honolulu and Sydney: Hordern House and University of Hawaii Press, 1999.
Four volumes, quarto, xxi, 527; xiv, 599; xiv, 735; xiv, 791 pp. Original half bright red morocco, wine red morocco labels. As new.
Limited de luxe edition of the canonical Hawaiian bibliography
De luxe edition, specially bound in half morocco and limited to 50 copies signed in each volume by Forbes. This superb and long-awaited bibliography of Hawaiiana begins with the earliest period of European discovery, including a comprehensive account of Cook's third voyage. The successive volumes track Hawaii's development to a democracy and its growing links to the United States.
De luxe edition, specially bound in half morocco and limited to 50 copies signed in each volume by Forbes. This superb and long-awaited bibliography of Hawaiiana begins with the earliest period of European discovery, including a comprehensive account of Cook's third voyage. The successive volumes track Hawaii's development to a democracy and its growing links to the United States.
Following the chronological model of Ferguson's renowned Bibliography of Australia, the work records all printed materials that touch on some aspect of the political, religious, cultural or social history of the Hawaiian Islands. In addition to books and pamphlets, the bibliography includes newspaper and periodical accounts and single-sheet publications such as broadsides, circulars and playbills. This important bibliography won both the MLA Bibliography Prize for 2000 and a special commendation from the Bibliography Prize Committee of ILAB (International League of Antiquarian Booksellers).
David Forbes (1941-2022), the author of many books and curator of many exhibitions of historical Hawaiiana, was generally acknowledged to be the greatest expert of all time in this field. His bibliography of Hawaii is an indispensable tool for the historian or collector and is made even more desirable by this sumptuous binding, each volume signed by the author. The trade edition in green cloth is also very scarce. Bookseller's note: using it extensively for this catalogue brings home what a work of genius it is, astounding in its attention to detail and unfailing accuracy. That it was published at all, let alone so sumptuously, is entirely due to the generosity of David's friends and admirers in Hawaii and Australia.
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