Rare Collection of Fijian Government Council and Gazette Papers, 1871–1886 - Printed in Fiji

-Government Printer Suva - W. Cook / D.W. Murray

27 official Government Council and Gazette papers documenting Fiji’s transition from an independent kingdom under Cakobau to a British colony.

Foolscap folio bound in contemporary brown cloth boards with spine lettered in gilt.

Boards faded, marked, and worn; edges worn and occasionally frayed Some light browning to leaves, but text clean and overall very good.

Contents:

Fiji Gazette (“Cakobau Rex”), Nos. 24–28, 30–36, 39 (14 issues, 1871–1872), including estimates of revenue (1 July 1872 – 31 July 1873)

Fiji Government Gazette and Fiji Royal Gazette, 13 issues, 1875–1886

Extraordinary issues Nos. 29 and 61 (1886)

The collection includes 14 issues of the Fiji Gazette (1871–1872), each headed with the royal monogram “Cakobau Rex”, identifying Cakobau as King of the independent Fijian state. These early issues document key aspects of state formation and governance, including the regulation of indentured labour, the incorporation of Levuka into the state, and the cession of Rewa.

The collection then documents the transition to a British colony, with 13 issues of the Fiji Government Gazette and Fiji Royal Gazette (1875–1886). These include Issue No. 1 of the

Fiji Royal Gazette, formally proclaiming Fiji’s status as a colony of Great Britain.

Rarity: Only 10 copies recorded on WorldCat. (Library of Congress, British Library, and Hawai‘i). Few copies outside Australasia.

Provenance:

Kathleen Kerr Parker, second wife of Frank Critchley Parker, founder and editor of The Sun.

£2000