The Life and Times of Sir George Grey KCB
Auckland, H. Brett, 1892.
Octavo, [vi], 496 pages with numerous illustrations.
Blue cloth lettered in gilt on the spine and decorated in blind on the sides; cloth a little rubbed and bumped at the extremities, slightly marked, unevenly discoloured, and a little bubbled; edges a little dusty; front inner hinge neatly reinforced; overall, a very good copy.
'J.I. Watts, kindly sent to her from New Zealand by Sir George Grey, Feb'y 11th [18]93' is inscribed in ink on the dedication page (in a third-party hand). In his time, Sir George Grey (1812-1898) had been Governor of New Zealand (twice), Governor of Cape Colony, an Australian explorer and the Governor of South Australia (from 1841 to 1845). Mrs Jane Isabella Watts (1823-1893) was the author of 'Family Life in South Australia Fifty-three Years ago dating from October, 1837', published in 1890. Mounted on the recto of the frontispiece is an autograph letter signed from Grey (one page octavo, 2 February 1893), thanking Mrs Watts for her recent gift of her book: 'I shall peruse it with great interest, for I always entertained a high regard for your most excellent father' (manager of the South Australian Company from 1841 to 1861). Mounted on the verso of the flyleaf is a short personal greeting signed from Grey to Mrs Watts, dated a day later.
Item #125768
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