Our Familiar Island order Trees, Mary Dillingham Frear. Illustrated. Signed. 1st Edition, 1st Printing.

Mary Emma Dillingham Frear (June 30, 1870 - January 17, 1951) was First Lady of the Territory of Hawaii from 1907 to 1913, and was a regent of the University of Hawaii for two decades. The granddaughter of missionaries, she was the first Hawaii-born wife of a governor of Hawaii.

She was born as Mary Emma Dillingham in Honolulu, but was nicknamed May. Her father was Benjamin Franklin Dillingham, the founder of the Oahu Railway and Land Company. Her mother was Emma Louise Smith, the daughter of missionaries Lowell Smith and Abigail Willis Tenney, who arrived in Honolulu on May 31, 1833.

At Punahou School in Honolulu, her Greek language instructor was Yale graduate Walter F. Frear. When she enrolled at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, he returned to Yale Law School to pursue his law degree. After graduating from their respective schools, they returned to Honolulu and married on August 1, 1893. Walter became an associate justice of the Supreme Court of both the Provisional Government of Hawaii and the Republic of Hawaii, and chief justice of the Territory of Hawaii. In 1907, he became the Third Territorial Governor of of Hawaii, serving until 1913.

Mary was a poet, writer and community activist. Her poems were published in newspapers, and eventually compiled into books. Two of her books were about the flora of Hawaii. She also published a book about the lives of her grandparents. Known for her community involvement, she was active with a local theatre group, was instrumental in building the YWCA in Honolulu, and was a regent of the University of Hawaii for two decades.

She died about two years after her husband, at the age of 80.

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Very rare signed copy, by the 3rd First Lady of the Territory of Hawaii.


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Richard D. Badger/The Gorham Press, Boston, 1929 (copyright).

7 1/2" X 5".

1st Edition, 1st Printing.

Foreword by The Outlook Circle of Honolulu.

Illustrated throughout w/ full-page color plates & many lesser B&W photos.

Very Good copy, in a Very Good(-) dust jacket.


Blue cloth, gilt letters. Minor spine bumping & rubs, head & foot, corners. Signed by the author on the Dedication Page. Previous seller's price/notation, in light pencil, top of the front free fly - no other markings. The spine gilt has darkened with age & is difficult to read & there is a rather large light spot/stain marring part of the gilt Title. Both end-papers have yellowed with age, in order places, and there is light age spotting to the Title Page, as well. The book is tightly bound, with a just a hint of spine slant. Both hinges are sound.

The dust jacket is still in nice condition, although there are two long tears down the sides of the front cover (both closed); another 2" tear at the bottom of the front fold (closed); and several lesser chips & edge-wear (all closed) in various places. Despite all that, the jacket is still handsome, bright & colorful. The publisher's original price of $1.50 (net) is extant at the middle of the spine. The back flap was left blank by the publisher. Now in a BroDart protective sleeve. 161 pages.