Last Days in New Guinea by Captain C.A.W. Monckton

Photos, Drawings, Maps (illustrator).

This edition is 1922

This sequel to Captain Monckton’s “Some Experiences of a New Guinea Magistrate” continues to relate his life and adventures in primitive New Guinea as he filled a number of colonial appointments, in addition to that of Resident Magistrate. His time in NG was in the last days of the Victorian era and his vivid descriptions of the country at that time make startling reading. No punches are pulled in his criticisms of its colonial administrators, while, where deserved, he is free in his praise of others. A revealing book about a stone-age age country, with detailed observations regarding its natural history, environment, native peoples and commercial prospects. A memorable book. First published in 1922 (MCMXXII) 287 pages including the index, which is followed by four pages promoting other Bodley Head publications. 55 b/w plates, mainly photographs with several drawings and diagrams, and two fold-out maps. VG brown hardcovers have light surface wear, few marks, wear to spine extremities/corners, some light mottling at cover edges, black spine titles with decorative bands top and base, small circled ink number top corner front pastedown with neat name/address near top, previous owners plate on front end page lower right corner, slight cracking at gutter FFEP verso and half-title also for backboard to lesser extent, both boards slightly loose but firmly attached, text block is excellent with all plates including frontis of author firmly fixed, front map of five folds has short tear just below horizontal fold line but otherwise good, three-fold map at the rear also in good condition. no tears. Some pages are loose from the binding but this has been taken into account when pricing.