PAGAN RACES OF THE MALAY PENINSULAR with numerous illustrations specially taken for the work (2 vols)

London: Macmillan, 1906. 1st ed. . Brown Cloth. Good+. 15.5 Cms x 22.5 Cms. Vol.I.: f/piece (trace of lost tanned tissue guard along gutter)+xi+724+(4, pub.'s anthropology list), illustrations on ex.-pagination plates throughout, taking 6 pp. to list in contents, often several per plate or plate block, 1 black and red map, ; Vol.II.: f/piece with tissue guard loss as Vol.1+x+855, ills as Vol.1 but only 4pp to list, inc. 6 maps (4 in text), part unopened; both vols. with top edge gilt and uncut fore-edges. Internally both vols. are tight and unmarked with no gutter probelms, light tanning to endpapers and t.p.s only; covers have numerous small mmarks and flecks of various kinds but none particularly serious, some cloth blistering to front Vol.2, both have rubbing to corners and (lightly) to spine ends, corner rubbing has broken through cloth in most cases, esp. top outer front corner Vol.2, very minor short cloth splits to joints on Vol.1 (front and back) and Vol.2 (front only), aesthetically though the main problem is that they are both rather dull, especially spines. There is thus something of a contrast between the quality of the internal texts, which would clearly rate VG, and that of the covers, so my G+ rating is a compromise. Extraordinarily broad coverage and lavish illustrations render this an invaluable account of the indigenous poeples of the Malay Peninsular at the end of the 19th century. Aside from the racial classifications, and term Negritos, there is little overt racism in this work. Everything from textile design and burial customs to diet, the arts, weapons and diseases is covered, often in depth (esp.textile designs), with Part IV (second half of Vol.2) being on language. Copies of private provenance especially scarce. Unpacked weight just over 2.6 kg so allow for substantial additional postage, especially if outside UK.