The Maori-Polynesian Comparative Dictionary

Christchurch: Whitcombe and Tombs. Good+ with no dust jacket. [1907]. Hardcover. 1/2" missing to cloth at head of spine. Small tears and losses to cloth at tail of spine and at tips of corners of boards. Contemporary owner's signature on front endpaper "D J Rattray / "Burnbank" / Hook". Pencil marginalia on verso of half-title leaf. Bookseller's rubber stamp, P. W. Hutton & Co., Timaru. ; No date [1907]. xxiv, 675, [1] pages + corrigenda slip at page 24 + corrigenda leaf at page 200. Red cloth boards with gilt lettering and decoration on spine. Page dimensions: 244 x 156mm. This is called a Comparative Dictionary because after the English definition, the dictionary also lists similar words in other Polynesian languages such as Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan and Marquesan. The entries are arranged in alphabetical order in Maori, from A to Whiwhita. The dictionary is also something of an encyclopedia, since there are long entries for Maori mythical or legendary beings and gods such as Maui, Ra, Rangi, Tane and many others. Brown cloth boards with blind-stamped decoration. Gilt titles and decoration on spine. A gilt tooled decoration to centre of spine. Page dimensions: 241 x 155mm. Title page printed in red and black. The 1907 issue was a reissue of the first printing, with the substitution of a new title page, and additions of a corrigenda slip at page xxiv, and a leaf of Corrigenda and "Additional" at page 200. According to a manuscript note made by A. H. Turnbull, cited below Bagnall sT703a, this undated 1907 edition can be distinguished from Whitcombe and Tombs earlier 1897 edition by, in the 1907 edition, the lack of a full stop after "Reserved" on the title page, and by the more crimson tint of the red ink used on the title page. [The "M" of Maori" also starts to the left of the "M" of Comparative on the title page, whereas on the title page with the full stop after "Reserved)", the "M" of Maori starts to the right of the "M" of "Comparative". - from observation of four copies, two with and two without the full stop.] [References: Bagnall T704, and see correction to T704 in the Bagnall Supplement volume beneath sT703a; also see BIM 1503]. ; 4to .