Fihirana Hiderana an' Andriamanitra. Voalahatra araka ny heviny samy hafa. [Hymns for the worship of God: arranged according to different themes].

PRINTED AND BOUND AT A MISSION PRESS UP A MOUNTAIN

"Editiona vaovao 10,000" [New edition]. 16mo. Full dark red morocco with initials "M.E.C." stamped in gilt to upper cover. Rolled gilt dentelles with unusual silver endpapers, geometrically impressed in blind. Silk ribbon place marker. London Mission Society label to front pastedown with ms. note in Welsh. Typed label to ffep. Ownership inscription to title-page "M. E. Collins Xmas 1906". Bound with three other titles (see below). A little rubbing to ends of spine, else very good. iv, 260, viii pp. Imarivolanitra, NY London Missionary Society, 

An unusual Malagasy imprint, with contemporary notes identifying the binding as the work of the London Missionary Society press. Today known as Pic Boby, Imarivolanitra where the mission was located is Madagascar's highest climbable peak. The label to the front pastedown is headed with the address of the LMS "Visual Education Department", and the manuscript inscription in Welsh ("enghraifft dda o rhwymo cywrain yng nghwasg y gymdeithas genhadol") translates roughly as "a good example of intricate binding from the press of the missionary society". This would suggest that the London branch of the mission were using such curiosities of remote bookmaking to advertise their efficacy in spreading the Gospels. 

 

The other bound in titles are:

Fitsipika ho an' ny Krisiana Samy Irery. 18mo card bifolium with engraved ornaments. [4pp]. [N.p., N.d.].

Fihirana Fanampiny natao ho an' ny fiangonana eto betsileo. Nalahatra araka ny heviny samihafa. [2], 1-18, 17-20, 4pp. Tananarive: Imprimerie L.M.S., Imarivolanitra, 1907. 

Fihirana Fanampiny natao ho an' ny fiangonana ao ambohimandroso sy ambalavao. 12pp. [N.p., n.d.].

 

OCLC finds one copy only of this edition, at Yale. 

Stock Code: 246145