[LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY] - Lot 102

[LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY] Narrative of the Mission at Otaheite, and other Islands in the South Seas; commenced by the London Missionary Society in the Year 1797. London, London Missionary Society and sold by William and Co. and J.Nisbet, 1818. In-8 (205 x 128 mm) of 2 ff.n.ch., 86 pp. 1 f.n.ch. (errata), 1 engraved folding map. Half tan leather (modern binding). O'Reilly, 7620; Ferguson, 718. First illustrated edition (there was another the same year with only 48 pages, and without the map). There is a short geographical note on the Tahiti group followed by a history of the mission since Duff's voyage written from first hand documents. The edition also contains three letters (translated into English) from King Pomare, dated 1807, 1815 and 1816, the last of which is addressed to the missionaries leaving Tahiti and in which Pomare refers to his own "idols" still in his kingdom. The map, entitled A Map of Islands in the Southern Pacific Ocean the Natives which have been converted to Christianity, is dated June 26, 1818. A very good copy.