The History, Civil and Commercial, of The British Colonies in the West Indies. Three Volumes: 1794-1801

London: Printed for John Stockdale, Piccadilly, (1794; 1801).

Price: $5,000.00

Hardcover. Three volumes: the second edition in two volumes (1 and 2), and the rare 1801 first edition of the third volume: “An Historical Survey of the French Colony in the Island of St. Domingo: comprehending An Account of the Revolt of the Negroes in the Year 1791.” Illustrated with 22 engraved maps and plates, including three large folded maps of the West Indies (in two sheets), Jamaica, and St. Domingo.

Quartos. Bound in contemporary tree calf, gilt spines with leather title labels, edges stained light cream yellow. All three volumes neatly re-jointed, institutional bookplates on the pastedowns. One leaf in vol. 1 (pp. 179/180) is partly damaged: the lower right corner was torn away and replaced with a surrogate facsimile of affected letterpress text, else a good or better set with wear on the spine backs and edges of the boards, corners a little bumped, some toning, and scattered foxing.

Described by abolitionist William Wilberforce as a “powerful opponent” who supported the slave trade, Bryan Edwards was an English historian and politician, and the owner of several plantations in Jamaica. A representative of the moderate planter position, Edwards’ groundbreaking *History … of The British Colonies in the West Indies* secured his election as Fellow of the Royal Society in 1794. In this wide-ranging work, he summarized his aim as: “to describe the manners and dispositions of the present inhabitants … [and provide] an account of the African slave trade, some observations on the negro character and genius, and reflections on the system of slavery established in our colonies”. Edwards also wrote a History of Haiti in 1795, and as Secretary of the African Association, he edited the African travel journals of Mungo Park.

A scarce complete set, with all of the maps and illustrated plates in very good condition. Pagination statements for all three volumes are available.


Item #443123

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Item #443123 The History, Civil and Commercial, of The British Colonies in the West Indies. Three Volumes: 1794-1801. Bryan EDWARDS.
The History, Civil and Commercial, of The British Colonies in the West Indies. Three Volumes: 1794-1801
The History, Civil and Commercial, of The British Colonies in the West Indies. Three Volumes: 1794-1801
The History, Civil and Commercial, of The British Colonies in the West Indies. Three Volumes: 1794-1801
The History, Civil and Commercial, of The British Colonies in the West Indies. Three Volumes: 1794-1801
The History, Civil and Commercial, of The British Colonies in the West Indies. Three Volumes: 1794-1801