Lot 191
[Kaiulani and Robert Louis Stevenson]. Presentation copy of Kidnapped (London: Cassell & Company, Limited, 1888) by Robert Louis Stevenson to Princess Victoria Kaiulani Cleghorn, heir apparent to the Hawaiian throne. Hand-tooled green leather covers with gold inscription on the front cover: "H.R.H. Kaiulani From R.L.S." Marbled end pages, gold decorative border and lettering; five raised bands on spine; gilt-edge pages. Tiny blemish to leather above the "R."; wear to leather at lower spine hinges. Light toning to pages and and minor foxing to a few forward pages. Book plate of Helen Hewlett Hough is affixed to inside cover. Hough, who was from Stockton, California, met Percy Thomas Cleghorn while visiting Hawaii and they married in 1911. Percy was the great great nephew and personal secretary to Kaiulani's father, Archibald Cleghorn.
Given to Kaiulani sometime between January 1889, when Stevenson arrived in Hawaii, and April 1889, when Kaiulani left for England to go to school. Stevenson, who had gone to Hawaii for his health, made friends with King Kalakaua, who introduced him to a fellow Scotsman, Archibald Scott Cleghorn, Kaiulani's father .The author and the young girl became good friends. He gave her this book and three others offered in this sale, sometime between January and April of 1889.
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500.
Descended through the Cleghorn family.
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| Realized $3,240 |
