Pacific Islands

Fiji and its Possibilities – Beatrice Grimshaw – First Edition 1907

A first edition published by Doubleday, New York 1907. Published at the same time in London under the title “from Fiji to the Cannibal islands”.

Large tick octavo, 315 pages, original green cloth covered binding, top edge clean gilt. Embossed image of native to front board. A very good, very clean tight copy. Carries the bookplate of Maine educationalist Walter Francis Kimball to the front past down. Despite the title more than Fiji with rather graphic writing from the New Hebrides (Vanuatu) and an unusual ending in the Norfolk Islands

Beatrice Grimshaw (1870 – 1953) was an Irish born travel writer who spent most of her working life in the Western Pacific. In 1904, she was engaged by the London Daily Graphic to report on the Pacific Islands and she did so sailing around in her own cutter. She was commissioned to write for the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa and Tonga. This book on Fiji was one of her earlier works. In 1907, she went to Papua and remained there for most of the next 27 years becoming a close friend of Sir Hubert Murray.

Nicely illustrated with over 80 photographic images including a frontispiece of the author. Contents cover … history of Fiji; the days of Thakombau; Fijian language; native food and “how to drink yanggona”; hospitality and introduction to mbill-mbill; Fijian fun and a night on the Wainikoro; Ndreketi and the Fijian smart society; the last of the cannibals; the vanilla planters; history of the New Hebrides; dynamite fishing; coffee and a plan to eat a Planter; Malekula an uncanny place; the marriage market; a stronghold of savagery; ten stick island; Malekula the outer and inner man; slaughtered traders; the idol dance; interview with the cannibal chief; poisoned arrows; hot times in Tanna; a Council of War; returned labour trouble; up the Volcano and the Valley of Fire; Norfolk Island and the fate of the Mutineers.

Very good copy of key Fiji book – 1907

$90.00

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From the Middle Temple to the South Seas – Alexander – First Edition 1927

A most unusual book, first edition published by Murray, London in 1927. Large octavo, 287 pages in pretty good condition just some ageing to page edges

The author Gilchrist Alexander was a Scottish Barrister who practiced out of the Middle Temple London. After 20 years of perhaps “not enough briefs” he accepted the role as the first Chief police Magistrate in Fiji.

The first chapter is about his conventional career. In Fiji activity takes on a more interesting shape with absconding defendants, piracy, blackbirding and headhunters. The narrative interspersed with observations mainly in Fiji but also the New Hebrides. Nicely illustrated with 25 photographic images.

Unusual account of a legal mind in Fiji

$40.00

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Early Observations of Marquesan Culture 1595-1813 – Edwin Ferdon

First published University of Arizona, 1993. Octavo, 184 pages in very good if not fine condition.

A scholarly work by Edwin Ferdon who as a young man was archaeologist on the Thor Heyerdahl 1955 expedition to Easter Island. The notes and bibliography make it extra useful for those that want to more broadly study the history of the Marquesas.

Ferdon was thorough

$40.00

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Captain Henry Byam Martin R.N. – Polynesian Journal

Published by the Peabody Museum in 1981, Octavo 192 pages beautifully illustrated. A very good copy in a complete dust jacket.

Captain Martin’s first command, H.M.S. Grampus with orders to sail for Hawaii to await further orders which were to sail for Tahiti the French planning to subjugate the island, which they did by “bloody force”.

The actual journal was in the bowels of the British Museum … it is characterised by in the moment observations and a sense of humour regarding the struggle between the French and the British and the oft hopeless position the islanders found themselves in.

The text of an important one time “lost” journal .

$40.00

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Sailor and Beachcomber – Safroni-Middleton – First Edition 1915

“Confessions of a Life at Sea, In Australia and amid the Islands of the Pacific”. Published by Grant Richards, London a first edition 1915.

Thick octavo, 304 pages private library stamp at front and rear of Thomas Kinmore of Cork, Ireland. Nicely illustrated with 23 images from photographs. Pretty good condition.

An unusual book starting with “I run away to sea” but finds himself stranded in Brisbane and then off to the bush before leaving for the South Sea Islands. The usual chapter on cannibalism with much time spent in Samoa and Fiji, then Tahiti (and the usual chapter on morals) and the Marquesan Queens and back to Samoa before returning to Australia. Lost in the bush and on to the Gold Fields and Coolgardie. References to the Bounty and of course R.L.S. And quite a bit of violin playing – see his biography below.

Written in an interesting somewhat casual style but packed with observation if not sometimes a bit puffed up.

The author George Arnold Haynes Safroni-Middleton (1873-1950), also known as Count Safroni, was a British Composer, violinist, harpist, writer and astronomer. Born in Kent he studied violin with Pablo de Sarasate and later played with the orchestra at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney. He toured Australia and explored Borneo, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia (and also obviously the Pacific). He composed “Imperial Echoes” in 1913 which for many years was the theme of “Radio Newsreel” on the BBC. Quite an odd chap.

In Australian and (mainly) in the Pacific – entertaining

$80.00

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Bounty / Pitcairn Item – Harper’s New Monthly Magazine – 1871

Bound as one volume Harper’s Magazine from December 1870 to May 1871. Small quarto, 952 pages bound in half black leather worn but strong, page edges speckled red.

The usual smorgasbord of 19th century articles. The star is a 15 page illustrated article on the Pitcairn Islanders largely based on Lady Belchers book

Unusual Bounty/ Pitcairn item often overlooked

$85.00

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Fiji and its Possibilities – Beatrice Grimshaw – First Edition 1907

From the Middle Temple to the South Seas – Alexander – First Edition 1927

Early Observations of Marquesan Culture 1595-1813 – Edwin Ferdon

Captain Henry Byam Martin R.N. – Polynesian Journal

Sailor and Beachcomber – Safroni-Middleton – First Edition 1915

Bounty / Pitcairn Item – Harper’s New Monthly Magazine – 1871

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