Two very rare issues of an administrative annual periodical (in the form of an almanac) on Tahiti, Moorea and other parts of French Polynesia, printed in Papeete (the capital of French Polynesia and Tahiti). In 1842 the French proclaimed the protectorate over the islands and atolls in the different archipelagos of French Polynesia, including Tahiti, which is the most populous island. Both issues contain a calendar, in addition to the many pages listing various members of the local and colonial government and judiciary. Both issues also contain demographic information about the population and trade, including lists showing who has a patent on what, tables on the import and export in the port of Papeete, but also tables showing the different rates for posting letters from Polynesia through the colonial mail service. Besides this administrative information, the yearbooks also contain geographical information on the Society Islands (both the Windward Islands (or Îles du Vent), including Tahiti and Moorea, and the Leeward Islands (or Îles Sous le Vent), among others Bora-Bora and Raiatea), the Marquesas Islands and the archipelago of Tuamotu, besides some small remarks on others places in Oceania.
With the blind-tooled stamp of Carlos Bailly-Balliere (C. Bailly Balliere, Libreria Estranjera y Nacional, Madrid") on both title-pages, with some contemporary labels mounted on the front wrapper and spine (reading "E" and "1"; "C" and "3"). Wrappers are a little worn, some soiling on the back wrapper of the 1863 issue, a light crease in the front wrapper of the 1863 issue, book blocks cracked and therefore some leaves are a little or almost loose. The 1863 issue is slightly foxed, also on the leaves on which the photographs are mounted, but not affecting the maps. Otherwise in good condition. Both annuals are very rare and seldomly offered for sale. O'Reilly & Reitman 10283 & 10284.