AMER WINTER 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Thursday, February 8, 2018.
RARE FIRST AMERICAN EDITION OF 1808 THOMAS CLARKSON, "THE HISTORY OF THE RISE, PROGRESS & ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE ABOLITION OF THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE" OWNED BY FAMOUS BOSTON ABOLITIONIST SAMUEL PHILBRICK.Among the best known authors of the English slave abolition movement was Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846) best known for his 1807 text published in London. This first American edition here was printed in Philadelphia in 1808 in two volumes totaling 932 pages with each volume containing large fold-out illustrations bound in full leather with gilt edge ribbed spines. Front fly leaf in both books inscribed "Samuel Philbrick, a gift from William Rotch". Samuel Philbrick (1789-1859) was a leading Boston Abolitionist and among the founders of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. The Philbrick home at 182 Walnut Street, Brookline, MA was one of the principle stations on the Underground Railroad. When Philbrick died in 1859 he told his son Edward "You will live to see a war over this slavery business". William Rotch born on Nantucket was another prominent abolitionist (1734-1828). Made rich by his whaling fleet, Rotch was possibly the wealthiest man in New Bedford. He was also a charter member of the Providence Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery in 1789 and his son William Rotch Jr. was the first President of the New Bedford Anti-Slavery Society in 1834. Rotch's ship Dartmouth was made famous in 1773 after delivering whale oil to England and unwittingly bringing British East India Company tea back to Boston. She arrived in Boston on November 28, 1873, 18 days prior to the December 16, 1773 Boston Tea Party. SIZE: Books are 4-1/4" x 7-1/4". CONDITION: Books are sound with light foxing and acid staining to fly leaves. Bindings are intact with scuffing, hinges sound but starting with scuffing. Spine inscriptions in gilt with author and volume numbers are good as can be seen in photos. Fold out plate in volume two showing African slaves stacked as cargo in drawing has old pasted about 3" tear repair with several cracks at folds. 52737-5 JGS (800-1,500)