“The Book of Love” - Rare imprint from the Wesleyan Missionary Press at Mangungu

KO TE PUKAPUKA AROHA

O nga Kaumatua o te Hahi Weteriana o Ingarani, Matou ko nga Mihanere, ki o matou tangata I Nu Tirani

“THE BOOK OF LOVE From the Elders of the Wesleyan Church of England, We the Missionaries, to our people in New Zealand.”

-Published, Mangungu, November 12, 1839

-1 double sided sheet folded in-4 – 20x12cm (folded)

An early work from the Wesleyan press in Mangungu, Northern New Zealand,  published in 1839.  Mangungu was the site of the Wesleyan Mission and was a second attempt by the Wesleyan Church, after their first mission was not welcomed by the Māori. Mangungu was important in early Māori-European relations and was the site of the largest signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

This letter was written by John Bumby and contains extracts from the 1838 Wesleyan Conference. It describes the activities of the Wesleyan mission including fund raising for the ship Triton which planned to travel to New Zealand.

WorldCat states 7 copies only in institutions – with 3 outside of New Zealand (Brigham Young, British Library, National Library of Australia). Imprints from the Mangungu press are rare on the open market – the last appearing at auction in 2019.

BIM 54