The First edition of the Book of Common Prayer in Te Reo Māori in an Original New Zealand Leather Binding

KO TE PUKAPUKA O NGA INOINGA, ME RE MINITARANGA O NGA HAKARAMETA, KO ERA TIKANGA HOKI O TE HAHI, KI TE TITENGA O TE HAHI O INGARANI

The First Edition of the Complete Book of Common Prayer in Māori

Published, Paihia, New Zealand, 1840 (i.e. 1841)

Complete in 3 sections: 1-22, 23*-28, 23- 218, [2], 141, [1], [12]

Original local plain leather binding – disbound – 18 x 11cm

The first section is the “Large” prayer book, the second is the Psalms, and the third unpaginated section contains 42 hymns.

The Book of Common Prayer was translated into Māori by William Williams, William Puckey and William Colenso (who published the work at his press in Paihia). Initially the first section of 218 pages had been published in 1839 with high demand. This complete edition did not appear until 8 November 1841 with 6000 copies eventually published. Unusually this copy retains the leather binding which was produced locally.

Well used copy which is worn and disbound with loose pages, quires and covers. Pages stained with mould stains and marks sometimes severe. Poor condition overall consistent with extensive contemporary use.

6000 Copies of this book were published, but WorldCat states 24 surviving copies only in institutions – with 3 copies only in Europe and no copies in the USA. Rarebookhub hub state the last copy was sold in 1982 by Maggs. Reference: BIM 92