Gems from the Coral Islands, or incidents of contrast between savage and Christian life of the South Sea Islanders. Volume I. [AND] Volume II. [Complete].

London, Ward and Co., 1856. 8vo (19.8 x 14.2 cm). 595 pp.; two woodcut frontispieces, 29 woodcut plates, including three maps. Original decorated, pictorial blind-stamped and gilt cloth. Light yellow endpapers. All edges gilt. = The sensationalist title should be ignored. The work - written by the English missionary William Gill (1813-1878), not to be confused with another missionary, William Wyatt Gill (1828-1896) - deals with zealous attempts to convert habitants of western Polynesia and eastern Polynesia (including Penrhyn island, Savage Islands, Hebrides, Loyalty Islands, and New Caledonia) to Christianity. The chief merit of this work is the description of cultures and customs from before their demise. The description of a meeting with a local man named Tira, on the island of Mangaia is particularly moving (second volume, p. 161). This seems to be the first, complete edition, consisting of the "third thousand" of the first part on Western Polynesia, and the first edition of the second part, on Eastern Polynesia. Includes a supplement dealing with the islands and groups still in "heathenism" and "idolatry". Handwritten dedication, dated "1856? ", on the front free endpaper recto. Tiny bookbinder's label on the rear pastedown (Lewis & Sons, Gouch Square. Fleet St. London). Boards a bit soiled; covers split at hinges, but boards not detached; spine foot and top worn; internally, however, a very good, fresh condition.