Lot 319: EARLE, Augustus (1793-1838). Sketches Illustrative of the Native Inhabitants and Islands of New Zealand. London: Lithographed and Published, under the Auspices of the New Zealand Association, by Robert Martin, 1838.

EARLE, Augustus (1793-1838). Sketches Illustrative of the Native Inhabitants and Islands of New Zealand. London: Lithographed and Published, under the Auspices of the New Zealand Association, by Robert Martin, 1838.

Oblong 2υo (374 x 557 mm). Letterpress description of plates. 10 hand-colored lithographed plates after Earle. (Some scattered light foxing.) Original lithographed cloth-backed wrappers (some light dust-soiling, a few closed tears); quarter morocco folding case.

FIRST EDITION. Born in London, Earle was the son of the American portrait painter James Earle, and nephew of well known painter Ralph Earle. He traveled to South America and South Africa and after 2 years in in New South Wales, he spent 6 months (October 1827-April 1828) in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, making vivid sketches of Maori life. In his Narrative of nine months' in New Zealand Earl recalls: "I had arrived with feelings of fear and disgust; and was merely induced to take up a temporary residence amongst the natives, in hopes of finding something new for my pencil in their peculiar and picturesque style of life. I left them with opinions, in many respects, very favourable towards them." in 1831 Earle was draughtsman aboard Darwin's H.M.S. Beagle. Abbey Travel 587.