Hawaiian Antiquities and Folk-Lore: the Hawaiians’ Account of the Formation of Their Islands and Origin of Their Race, with the Traditions of Their Migrations, Etc., As Gathered From Original Sources by Abraham Fornander.

FORNANDER, Abraham. With translations edited and illustrated with notes by Thomas G. Thrum.

Item Number: 119435

Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press, 1916-1917.

Rare complete first edition set of Fornander’s foundational work on Hawaiian history and legend. Quarto, 9 parts in 3 volumes bound in three quarters 20th century calf with red morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt ruling and stamping to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, original wrappers bound in. In fine condition. A rare and desirable complete first edition set.

In 1831, Swedish-born ethnologist Abraham Fornander emigrated to America where he soon joined the whaleship Ann Alexander which departed from New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1841 a five-year campaign in the Pacific Ocean. In 1844, he deserted the ship in Honolulu, and soon became a citizen of the Kingdom of Hawaii, marrying a Hawaiian chiefess from Molokai named Pinao Alanakapu in 1847. After founding several publications in Hawaii, Fornander was appointed to the circuit court, a position that allowed him to do extensive travel within the islands and learn a great deal about Hawaiian mythology and language. Fornander paid special attention to legends and genealogies that he thought preserved the history of the Hawaiian islands after their settlement—their external and internal wars, dynastic quarrels, and eventually their contact by Captain James Cook and George Vancouver. On his death in 1887 his voluminous research passed to the Bishop Museum who eventually ensured their publication.