1888 · London and Bungay
by RUSDEN, George William
London and Bungay: Privately Printed by Richard Clay and Sons, 1888. Some rubbing to the binding, front hinge cracked but solid in binding, prelims with a few chips at edges. 8vo (21 x 13.5 cm). With half-title. vi, [2], 284 pages. Folding "Plan of Numumaru Shewing places mentioned in the evidence, Roland Garrett, Authorized Surveyor" (separated along two vertical folds and mended with tissue on verso). Near contemporary half calf. Provenance: E. A Petherick (signature on half-title; blindstamps of the Commonwealth Parliament Library Petherick Collection on first three leaves, withdrawl blindstamp on title signed by a representative). Scarce anonymously published, privately printed first edition (Petherick says in an edition of 300 copies, most of which were sent back to Trinity College, Melbourne, and put in storage by the author). "Rusden’s History of New Zealand sold tolerably well in London but was highly controversial in New Zealand itself. The history focused on the effects of white settlement on M ori and was critical of the behaviour of government officials and settlers (p keh ) towards them. It explored in great detail policies introduced by the New Zealand government that had damaged M ori life in the decades following the Treaty of Waitangi and defended the actions of humanitarians who sought to protect them from such treatment. Settlers viewed Rusden’s work as a libel against the whole country but there was little that could be done to prove it, except for one passage regarding the behaviour of the then Native Secretary John Bryce during the raid of Handley’s woodshed in 1868. Rusden countered official reports, which stated Bryce had acted honourably, instead opting for an account by Octavius Hadfield, Bishop of Wellington, that had been given to him by Sir Arthur Gordon. Hadfield’s account stated that Bryce, notorious for his harsh policies towards Maori, had killed women and children during the assault. Bryce sued Rusden for libel, claiming £10,000 in damages, and the matter was taken to trial. The case was heard in London, lasting five days. In summarising the case, the judge declared the passage was a libel and the jury took less than 15 minutes to declare that Rusden was guilty, demanding he pay £5,000 to Bryce. Rusden appealed and the damages were reduced to £2,531. He then went on to continue fighting for his cause, publishing this book ‘for the information of friends’ in 1888. The following year he reissued his History, replacing the libellous passage with 21 lines of asterisks and in 1895, produced an expanded second edition" (The Royal Collection Trust).
With fine provenance: Born in England, Edward Augustus Petherick (1847 – 1917) emigrated to Australia with his family when he was six years old and became a renowned bookseller, publisher, bibliographer and book collector in his adopted country. His collection became the basis of the Australiana section of the then Commonwealth National Library. The Australian historian George William Rusden (1819-1903) frequently visited Petherick in his home "Yarra Yarra" on Brixton Hill, staying there for long stretches while writing his HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA. (Inventory #: 410595)
With fine provenance: Born in England, Edward Augustus Petherick (1847 – 1917) emigrated to Australia with his family when he was six years old and became a renowned bookseller, publisher, bibliographer and book collector in his adopted country. His collection became the basis of the Australiana section of the then Commonwealth National Library. The Australian historian George William Rusden (1819-1903) frequently visited Petherick in his home "Yarra Yarra" on Brixton Hill, staying there for long stretches while writing his HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA. (Inventory #: 410595)
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