1767. · London
by Crantz, David
London: Printed for the Brethren's Society, 1767.. Two volumes. lix,405; 497,[1]pp., plus two folding maps and plates. Contemporary speckled calf, spines gilt, gilt leather labels. Boards slightly rubbed, with a few scuffed areas, light wear to corners and edges, label on second volume detaching. 20th- century bookplates on front pastedowns. Internally clean. A very good copy. First edition in English of this work, originally published in Dutch in 1765, and here translated by Gambold. One of the major important works on the history of the missionary experience of the Moravian Brethren among the Indians of Greenland. "The minute journal of the noble Moravian Brethren, gives us in their own language the phases of Aboriginal life and peculiarities which daily presented themselves. No tribe...has been more closely or intelligently studied. Specimens of their language are given..." - Field. Another English edition of 1820 is abridged, and this edition presents the best text. "Very few books affected me so deeply, and the man who does not relish the first part is no philosopher, and he who could not enjoy the second, is no Christian" - Samuel Johnson. FIELD 383. SABIN 17417. PILLING, PROOF-SHEETS 921. ARCTIC BIBLIOGRAPHY 3472.
(Inventory #: WRCAM54172)