New York: Harper & Brothers, 1835.
Price: $850.00
Hardcover. Third edition. 16mo. Publisher's handsome Ribbon-embossed cloth (see Krupp, *Bookcloth* Fs1) with spine gilt. Penciled owner signature ("John B. Corning") on front blank. Ex-Long Island Historical Society with their stamp on the front blank and final page of text, and a Brooklyn Historical Society "Withdrawn" stamp over the former. Cover detached and first three leaves separated, lacking a front blank, spine toned and lacking about half of the cloth, light to modest foxing throughout, an otherwise sound, good only copy.
The life of Robert Matthews, a notorious New York State religious eccentric who swindled his followers and was indicted for poisoning one of them, all occurring during the turmoil of the Second Great Awakening, during which time he was also acquainted with Mormon founder Joseph Smith. Among Matthias' small group of followers (or his "Kingdom" as he fashioned it) and mentioned frequently throughout the text, was "Isabella, the black woman..." referring to Isabella Baumfree, who was later known by her self-assumed name, Sojourner Truth.
Item #621188
