REID (Thomas). Two voyages to New South Wales and Van Diemen - Lot 108

REID (Thomas). Two voyages to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, with a description of the present condition of that interestings colony London, Longman, Hurst, Rees, 1822. In-8, XXIII-391 p., contemporary lavalier-glazed calf, five-ribbed spine edged with gilt fillets, gilt title, cold fleurons, gilt roulette and fillet edging the boards, gilt roulette at the edges, speckled edges (some rubbing, one cap uncovered, rare sporadic russeting). An important work by Irish marine surgeon Thomas Reid (1791-1825), which tells the story of the exiles in New South Wales in the early 19th century, and in particular of the penal colony of Van Diemen's Land. The book is dedicated to Mrs. Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845), one of the main people responsible for new legislation to improve the treatment of prisoners, especially women, in England. Reid's work bears witness to the condition of prisoners as well as their psychological state. Provenance: handwritten bookplate at the head of the title: "W [?] George Terry [?] lieut, feb 182 [?]".