Beschreibung:

MALAGASY PRAYER BOOKS-- Ny teny n'Andriamanitra, atao hoe, Tesitamenta /ny Jesosy Kraisty Tompo 'ntsika.. . An-Tananarivo: The Missionary Society, 1830. 8° (220 x 130mm). Title-pages in Malagasy and English, correction leaf. (Some light spotting to preliminary leaves and fore-edges.) 19th-century speckled calf (spine faded). Provenance : Robert Barclay (1751-1830) (presentation inscription on front endpaper by Charles Telfair, Port Louis, Mauritius, 1830) -- Charles Barclay (armorial bookplate). A MISSIONARY'S COPY OF THE FIRST TRANSLATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT INTO MALAGASY, PRINTED IN MADAGASCAR. One of the few copies to survive from the original printing of 3,000 by the missionary E. Baker. This edition, which contains the entire New Testament and an explanation of the meaning of non-Malagasy words, was combined with the Old Testament when it was completed in 1835 by Baker and Kitching, but almost all were destroyed during the persecution of missionaries between 1835 and 1861. This copy was given to Robert Barclay, who established a collection of exotic plants in the gardens at Bury Hill, Surrey, by Charles Telfair, a resident in Mauritius who became known for propagating hybrid hibiscus plants, which he sent to Barclay. In his inscription Telfair praises Barclay 'who first planned that mission and contributed to its success by his books and manuscripts.' Cameron and Bleek, 681. [ With : inserted inside front cover]: GRIFFITHS, D. Ny fototry ny fianarana . [Spelling Book]. An-Tananarivo: R. Kitching, 1827. 8 pp. (?of 24), uncut or collated. Provenance : Charles Telfair (presentation inscription from the author). This early issue is not included in Cameron and Bleek (cf. no. 670) or Sibree (cf. p.18). [ Together with :] Ny Fototry Ny Fianarana . An-Tananarivo: The Missionary Society, 1834. Similar to Bleek no. 670; bound with extracts from the Old Testament; and 2 prayer books with An-Tananarivo imprints dated 1872 and 1873; and 4 others on Madagascar, including CAMERON, J. and W. H. I. BlEEK, The Library of His Excellency Sir George Grey... Philology... Madagascar . London: 1859. (8)