Dibble, Sheldon

History and General Views of the Sandwich Islands' Mission. New York: Taylor & Dodd, 1839



12mo (7 1/2 x 4 1/2 in.; 190 x 114 mm). Foxing throughout, some dampstaining particularly in the first half of text. Publisher's ribbed brown cloth blocked in blind, spine lettered gilt; corners and spine ends bumped.

Forbes, Hawaiian National Bibliography 1141; Sabin 19991

First edition. Graduated from the Auburn Theological Seminary in Massachusetts in 1830, Sheldon Dibble and his newlywed bride sailed for Hawaii with the Fourth Company of American missionaries. They were first sent to Hilo and later to Lahainaluna Seminary on Maui in 1834. After the death of his wife in 1837, Dibble sailed back to America but would return to Lahaina in 1840. He taught history at the seminary, introducing his students to the innovative seminar method by having them collect oral histories from their elders. In addition to this work, Dibble assisted in the translation of the Bible and numerous other scholarly and scriptural texts, and wrote two more histories of the Sandwich Islands (one in English and one in Hawaiian).