The History Of Sumatra, Containing The Account Of The Government, Laws, And Costumes, And Manners Of The Native Inhabitants. With A Description Of The Natural Productions And Relation Of The Ancient Political State Of That Island

London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, 1811. Third edition, with corrections, additions, and plates. Hardcover. Rebacked in quarter brown cloth and original marbled boards. Black leather backstrip label lettered in gilt. Very good/Near fine. VIII,479, (9) pages. 27.5 x 22.5 cm. Third and best edition; first published in London in 1783. The authors reputation remains solid today. As as an orientalist in the service of the East India Company (VOC), and resided in Sumatra in 1771-79. He studied everything under his notice, including the difficult Sumatran tongue'' (Cox I, p.300). His book is the first important monograph on Sumatra, including a chapter on Nias and also the first text in English devoted to the island. HILL.1093. HQWEGO. M55. WELLEN-HELFRICH D 238. Index. Bookplate of Karl J. Pelzer. The latter was an authority on land use and the demographics of tropical regions, particularly Southeast Asia. Wide margins, interior contents fresh.