First edition, first printing of the American Museum of Natural History’s Guide Leaflet Series, No. 71, written by Margaret Mead and published by the Museum in 1928. 8vo (6.75” x 9.75”), pictorial wrappers, 38 pages, illustrated throughout with b/w photographs of Māori art and material culture, with map. An unusually early publication by Mead, issued in May 1928, several months before the publication of her landmark first book, Coming of Age in Samoa. Produced during her early tenure at the American Museum of Natural History, with discussions of Māori wood carving, architecture, canoes, weapons, textiles, greenstone, and tattooing. A scarce piece of early Margaret Mead bibliography, predating the book that established her international reputation. Spine split only at upper staple, binding otherwise sound. Moderate damp staining to wrappers, resulting in rippling to top edge of text block; stain transfer only to first and last leaf. Contents otherwise clean and bright.
First edition, first printing of the American Museum of Natural History’s Guide Leaflet Series, No. 71, written by Margaret Mead and published by the Museum in 1928. 8vo (6.75” x 9.75”), pictorial wrappers, 38 pages, illustrated throughout with b/w photographs of Māori art and material culture, with map. An unusually early publication by Mead, issued in May 1928, several months before the publication of her landmark first book, Coming of Age in Samoa. Produced during her early tenure at the American Museum of Natural History, with discussions of Māori wood carving, architecture, canoes, weapons, textiles, greenstone, and tattooing. A scarce piece of early Margaret Mead bibliography, predating the book that established her international reputation. Spine split only at upper staple, binding otherwise sound. Moderate damp staining to wrappers, resulting in rippling to top edge of text block; stain transfer only to first and last leaf. Contents otherwise clean and bright.
