The History of Prince Lee Boo, son of Abba Thulle, King of the Pelew Islands; brought to England by Captain Wilson, Commander of the Antelope, East India Packet, which was wrecked off these islands, on her passage, from China, on the 9th, of August, 1783: with an account of Lee Boo's death : and he was buried in Rotherhithe Church-Yard, where a tomb is erected in his memory.
London: Thomas Hughes, 1823. First edition thus. Hardcover. "The book tells the story of Captain Henry Wilson’s shipwreck on Palau and his subsequent encounter with the Palauan people, one of whom, a young prince named Lee Boo, later came to England with Wilson. Prince Lee Boo was one of the first Pacific Islanders to visit Great Britain, and his life and untimely death, only five months after his arrival in London, captured the imagination of the British, and wider European and American, audiences. This work was so popular that between 1789 and 1850, more than 20 English and a dozen foreign-language editions were published in different countries." (World Digital Library). It was first published by E. Newbery in 1794.
12mo, 108 pp, with three magnificent period hand colored copper engraved plates with tissue guards, the frontispiece dated September 1823. Original gray printed wrappers with publishers advertisements on the back wrapper. Bound into 18th century mottled calf, gilt decorated spine with 5 raised bands, bottom band lacking, gilt dentelles. Very good condition. Item #19525
Price: $475.00