Hamburg, Friedrichsen, De Gruyter, 1929-1931. In two parts. 4to (30.8 x 23.2 cm). One full colour frontispiece; xxviii, 506, xiv, [ii] pp.; 349 text figures [306; 43], 59 plates [41; 18]. Original uniform printed wrappers.

An important contribution to the ethnography of Melanesia, edited by the German physician and anthropologist Georg Christian Thilenius (1868-1937). "In 1900 he became a professor of anthropology and ethnology at the University of Breslau, and several years later (1904) was appointed director of the Museum für Völkerkunde Hamburg (Museum of Ethnology, Hamburg), a position he maintained until his retirement in 1935. As museum director, Thilenius coordinated the 1908-1910 Südsee-Expedition, a scientific expedition to German-administered territories in Micronesia and Melanesia. Over 15,000 objects and artifacts from the South Pacific were brought back to Hamburg, which were documented until 1938" (Wikipedia). This well-illustrated part was written by H. Damm and deals with the islands of Luaniua (Ontong Java Atoll, or Lord Howe Atoll), Solomon Islands and nearby Nukumanu (Papua New Guinea). The full colour frontispiece was published together with the unrelated Volume 8 and is often lacking, but, loosely inserted, present in this set. Uncut. A very good, clean set.