Savage Civilisation.

London: Victor Gollancz Ltd, , 1937. First edition, first impression. The publisher's archive copy with small pencil mark to the jacket front panel. Savage Civilisation was the future founder of Mass-Observation's first best-seller, in which he defended the way of life of the cannibals of the New Hebrides and their rights to their own land. "Harrisson's fourth Oxford expedition (1933-5) was to the New Hebrides. When the rest of the Oxford party left Santo Island for home in 1934, Harrisson got to Malekula, where cannibalism was still widespread. Unarmed, barefoot, with no money, he made friends with the cannibals and took censuses that helped to disprove the then popular thesis that the islanders were dying out from a morbid despair caused by culture shock; he found instead that their numbers were increasing. Harrisson's focus had shifted from birds to people" (ODNB). Octavo. Original blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt. With dust jacket and Book Society Recommendation wraparound band. Frontispiece and 31 plates, 9 maps and plans, most full-page, numerous line-drawn illustrations in the text. An excellent copy in the jacket that is a little dust-soiled and with two tears at head of front panel.