Boston: Mass. Anti-Slavery Society, 1840.
Price: $2,500.00
Hardcover. Third edition. 12mo. 123,[1],115pp. Two volumes bound in one. Publisher’s cloth-backed boards, printed spine label. Boards scuffed and a bit soiled, small losses along spine label extremities, lacking front free endpaper, contemporary (1851) gift (or possible ownership) inscription on the front pastedown: “James M. Whitfield, / from an English friend / January, 1851.”
Early popular anti-slavery novel, although its portrayal of an incestuous triangle between the protagonist Archy, his sister Cassy, and their father Colonel Moore generally inspired more disgust than abolitionist sympathy amongst its contemporary reviewers. However, the novel did provide “firsthand observation of Southern plantation life and slavery conditions” (Friedland, p. 129) based on the two years the author spent in Florida for the benefit of his health. (For additional information see Louis S. Friedland, *Richard Hildreth’s Minor Works,* in *Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America,* Vol. 40, no. 2, 2nd Quarter, 1946.) *LCP Afro-Americana* 4798-4800 for other editions; *Sabin* 31790; *Wright* I 1189.
This copy presented by an anonymous Englishman ("from an English friend") to the African-American barber, poet and, abolitionist James Monroe Whitfield (1822-1871), who later participated in a debate with Frederick Douglass on the pros and cons of th.e highly contraversial Colonization Movement (Whitfield arguing in its favor). While the two men may have disagreed on such a dividing question, it didn't deter Douglass from describing Whitfield as “this sable son of genius” (cf. Joan R. Sherman, “James Monroe Whitfield, Poet and Emigrationist,” in Journal of Negro History, Vol. 57, no. 2 (April, 1972), p. 169).
Item #440996
