Spenser

1862 · Best.-Nr. 1862SSo — London: Smith Elder and Co 1862. 1st edition. Hardcover. vol 1 very good vol 2 good-/no dj's as issued. London Smith Elder and Co. 1862. 2 vols 8vo 9" x 6" x 3". map in vol. 1: 19.5" x 16"; in vol. 2: 22" x 16.5" Vol 1: xix 1 list of illustr. 1 leaf errata 406 pages 2 advertising Vol 2: xi 1 list of illustr. 424 pages incl. 15 pages index. 2 folding lithographed maps 4 hand-colored lithographs of plants & 12 tinted lithographs. Contemporary half calf. Spine and corners worn but solid some foxing to plates and neighboring pages. Book block of vol. 2 cracked both maps with one short tear in fold pages clean only a few pages and the margins of some of the illustration with foxing. From the library of a gentleman who was a rare book dealer in Bangkok in the 1970's and 80's after his military service in Vietnam. ----- -----. The author was private secretary to Sir James Brooke British commissioner and governor of Labuan. St. John had a Malay mistress with whom he had three children. Missionaries and the local Anglican bishop complained of his immoral lifestyle and St. John responded with the present work which also describes his travels and botanical observations. 'TWO WELL-WRITTEN AND BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED VOLUMES' ODNB. Smith, Elder and Co hardcover