Thomas McLean, London 1847. 38.5 x 55.5cm. 60 leaves of explanatory notes on the 60 colour plates, extra col illus TP. 114. Maroon half binding. Gilt ruled spine compartments. AEG. CB. SABR. Some fading to worn extremities. Foxing, as usual, extending to plate borders. The images remain bright and fresh. Illus TP & Plates 1 to 30 in Vol I. Standard TP & Plates 31 to 60 in Vol II. The plates are hand-coloured engravings from Angas's original sketches and paintings. This splendid pictorial record of Angas's New Zealand travels is the most impressive presentation of any for the exploration period and is deservedly the 'mahi pai rawa atu' of the country's descriptive works. The plates depict landscapes traversed, Maori weapons, houses, domestic scenes, and, above all, portraits (although Angas failed to surmount the challenge of depicting Maori features as Polynesian rather than European). Most of the sketches are from the upper Waikato, South Taupo and Rotoaira, though there is a balancing spread from Port Nicholson, Porirua and elsewhere. G to G+.