Father Damien: An Open Letter to the Reverend Dr. Hyde of Honolulu.
San Francisco: John Henry Nash, 1930. Hardcover. 4to and 8vo (respectively). Quarter vellum with gilt lettering and beige paper over boards, 2-compartment slipcase with paper spine label. xxxv, 29pp; 32pp. Facing frontispieces. Near fine/very good. Both volumes with pristine spine and typically age toned boards, per usual, else tight and internally near fine; extra-heavy slipcase quite strong but a tad edgeworn and age toned. Item #47823
Superb copy of this sumptuous production printed for William Andrews Clark, Jr., who writes the lengthy introduction and whose "Compliments of" slip (8 3/4" X 2 3/4") is tipped to front flyleaf. The letter critical of the Catholic priest (1840-89) who became famed for ministering to Hawaiians afflicted with leprosy was penned to a colleague by Congregationalist missionary to Hawaii Charles McEwen Hyde (1832-99) and was not intended for publication -- but once published in a Sydney, Australia newspaper Hyde incurred the wrath of Stevenson. Stevenson's self-published pamphlet consisted of 25 copies only, and the smaller volume here contains a sharp facsimile of this rare item. Colophon in each volume notes limitation of 250 numbered copies (this #77). Like all Nash productions, a superb presentation.
Price: $250.00