RARE 1865 First - Dictionary Hawaiian Language 1st Ed. Lorrin Andrews/Near Fine For Sale

What is being offered is the rare first edition original (not reprint) of "A Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language, to which is appended an English-Hawaiian Vocabulary and a Chronological Table of Remarkable Events" By Lorrin Andrews. Published in Honolulu, HI by Henry M. Whitney 1865.
Free shipping and insurance included.
Condition: Near Fine. The spine is red leather with gilt titles and design lines; marbleized paper are onfront and back boards. Compared to other 'first editions' of the same date, there is visible differences and variations between different 'first edition' books; and knowing this book was published in Honolulu, around the summer of 1865, we are making the unsubstantiated assumption that heat/humidity may have caused quick deterioration (as seen in other similar book photos) so that the outer boards of this book may have been rebound at a later date (1870-1880's?) since the quality of this cover workmanship surpasses that of Hawaiian printers around 1850's-1860's. Again, the interior pages are all original to the first edition.
Not a library copy, no marks except pencil marking on first interior blank page stipulating 'first edition' and past pricing in English pounds from a presumed previous bookseller. Page aging is light, all printing clear. One small round hole less than 2 cm, impacting 3 letters of one word found at the bottom of Introduction on p. xi.
At some recent time, the front board/cover became partially separated but quickly and professionally restored by expert bookbinder, David Weinstein of N. Hollywood, CA, who also created the attractive marbleized paper slipcase (see photos). Book also protected in mylar wrap.
Provenance: The Dictionary was purchased in 2008 by best-selling author S.P. Grogan who used the book as Hawaiian vocabulary and historic research in his writing of two Island-themed novels. Captain Cooked: Hawaiian Mystery of Romance, Revenge...and Recipes (2010, 2020 anniversary reprint by HIstriaBooks.com). This book, when first published, won a special award from the Hawaiian Book Publishers Association and in 2022 the new edition won 'Best Food Novel' from the International Gourmand Book Awards. His second novel, Atomic Dreams at the Red Tiki Lounge (2014 & illustrated by Brad 'Tiki Shark' Parker) was first printed in a limited hardbound edition of 1,000 copies, today a collectible rarity, and re-printed in a 2023 10-year Anniversary softcover edition. These two books are available by this Seller or other sellers.
History: Seller will provide buyer background notes on the creation of this dictionary. Capsulized: Lorrin Andrews (see photo) arrived in the Hawaiian Islands in 1827 as a missionary. On arriving his first task was learning the Hawaiian language. He helped to establish a school on Mau'i. By May 1832 he helped translate the Bible's New Testament into Hawaiian. In 1833 the Lahainaluna mission received a printing press and the first Hawaiian newspaper was printed in 1834. By February 1836 he published a list of 5,700 words in the Hawaiian language. The Andrews Dictionary is the expansion of this first smaller dictionary where the 1865 dictionary contains 15,000 Hawaiian to English entries and 4,000 English to Hawaiian definitions.
There is a time gap between the 1836 and 1865 where Andrews led a full and hard- working public service career. He had resigned from the missionary work in 1842 over the dispute his board based in New England continued to receive funds from slave-holding states. Now living in Honolulu, in 1845, he was appointed a judge to administer foreign cases despite any lack of formal legal training. In 1846 he served as secretary of King's Privy Council keeping records in both English and Hawaiian. In 1852 he became an 'associate justice' on the Supreme Court. In 1855 he resigned his positions and went back to his skill as a publisher, translating various books of The Bible. He published some important chants from the Hawaiian culture. At this time, he combined his 1835/36 dictionary with several other word lists and published the Dictionary of 1865, becoming the major definitive source as the true first Hawaiian Dictionary. Note: in preparing the dictionary his eyesight was failing, and he had to have assistants assist him in the task of compilation.Andrews died in 1868.This dictionary subsequently has been added to and amended by other orthographic/linguist author revisions, most notable in 1922 and 1957. Beware, various reprint companies are offering modern leather-bound copies that are deceiving.
Side note: Dictionary publisherHenry Martyn Whitney (June 5, 1824 – August 17, 1904) was an early journalist in the Kingdom of Hawai'i.Born of early missionaries, he became the first postmaster and founded several long-lasting newspapers. Friend of Mark Twain. Whitney led a full life of publishing and involved controversies. Published the first tourist guide for the Islands.
See Seller's other Hawaiian listings. Andvisit seller's (Doyle 778) affordable curated, selecting the best of mysteries, thrillers and detective stories-- signed firsts -- John Dunning, Ed McBain, Janet Evanovich, Sue Grafton, Elmore Leonard, S.P. Grogan, Ed McBain, James Crumley, P.D. James, Scott Turow, Robert Tanenbaum, C.J. Box, Craig Johnson, Robert Barnard, Robert Crais, James Lee Burke, Lawrence Block, John Sandford, Kathy Reichs, to name a few –also non-fiction medical, forensic, research books--plus other subjects—U.S. Civil War, Easton Press, Western stars, award winning Cookbook Passion.