GILL, William. Gems From the Coral Islands; Or, Incidents of Contrast Between Savage and Christian Life of the South Sea Islanders.
London: Ward and Co., 1856. Two volumes bound in one. This is a remainder issue with volume one being the third thousand and volume two a first edition.
Tall 8vo., full red leather, raised bands, elaborate gilt compartments, pictorial decoration in gilt on the covers, gilt borders, inner dentelles gilt, A.E.G., (xvi), ii, (244); (xviii), 320, (4)pp.ads.
A fine attractive copy.
"Pearls of wisdom from Gill on the attributes of a Christian versus a savage lifestyle. In spite of the title, this work is concerned with description and travel, and relates the history of the Christian missions in Melanesia. The author is not to be confused with William Wyatt Gill (1828-1896) who was also in the Pacific." Volume I deals with the New Hebrides Group: The Loyalty Group; and New Caledonia Group; Volume II does the Rarotonga Group; Penrhyn Islands and Savage Islands. $450 CAD