New Zealand Graphic and Descriptive

1877. First Edition. (NEW ZEALAND) BARRAUD, C.D.; TRAVERS, W.T.L. New Zealand Graphic and Descriptive. London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, 1877. Elephant folio (16-1/2 by 21 inches), modern three-quarter black morocco, raised bands; section of original red cloth cover with gilt title and vignette mounted to front pastedown. $5000.First edition of one of the finest color plate books dealing with New Zealand, with 30 striking elephant folio lithographs—24 of them printed in color and mounted—of scenery throughout New Zealand. This copy extra-illustrated with a fine large hand-colored wood engraving by Samuel Calvert entitled ""Haunt of the Lyre Bird"" dated 1879 bound in at rear.""From his youth Barraud had displayed artistic talent, and for the first 26 years of his life in New Zealand he travelled widely in his spare time over a large area of the North and South Islands, sketching in the various provinces, and recording his impressions of the attractions of New Zealand. Many of these sketches he worked up to a larger scale, and the climax of this activity came in 1875 when he decided to sail to England to take advice on the publication of his work. This was published in 1877 under the title New Zealand, Graphic and Descriptive, his publishers being Samson, Low, Marston, Searle, and Rivington, the lithographer being C. F. Kell, while the descriptive material was edited by W. T. L. Travers. The book contained 24 full-page colour lithographs of landscapes and numerous other plain lithographs and woodcuts dealing with aspects of native life in New Zealand. Several of the lithographs are of considerable historic interest, particularly that portraying the Pink and White Terraces which were destroyed in the Tarawera eruption"" (Encyclopaedia of New Zealand). With lovely color-printed title page with mounted chromolithographic vignette, and full-page wood-engraved map of New Zealand. One mount with repaired marginal tear. Plates clean and fine, with vibrant coloring. An excellent copy of this splendid work on New Zealand.