The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of the African Slave-Trade by the British Parliament.

Clarkson, Thomas

Published by Printed by R. Taylor and Co., Shoe-Lane, For Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, Paternoster-Row, London, 1808

First edition of Clarkson's classic history of the slave trade, with the famous large folding engraving of the arrangement of slaves on decks of the slave-ship Brookes according to the "humane" Dolben Bill of 1788. Octavo, two volumes bound in contemporary three quarter brown tree calf over marbled boards, burgundy morocco spine label lettered in gilt, illustrated with the famous folding engraved plate of slaves closely fitted on decks of the slave-ship Brookes and a second folding map and engraved plate of shackles in Volume I. Dumond, Antislavery, 169. Sabin 13486. Kress B5319. Goldsmiths 19725. McCulloch 316. In near fine condition. Volume I title page with small marginal paper repair, minor expert paper repairs to folding map; expert repairs to joints and extremities of scarce contemporary bindings. Scarce in contemporary three-quarter calf and marbled boards. Thomas Clarkson, who was "the heart and soul of the campaign for abolition," led a handful of fervent activists working to untie slave-holding from the fabric of British life (Thomas, 495). His History would prove a vital document in the abolitionist struggles of Britain and America. The famous folding engraved plate of slaves closely fitted on decks of the slave-ship Brookes is one of the most powerful and influential images in the history of the anti-slavery movement. The Dolben Bill of 1788 had exacted a limit of the number of slaves per ship's tonnage at five slaves per three tons. Anti-slavery activists obtained the measurements of the Brookes and imposed slaves on its decks in the ratio required by the "humane" Dolben Bill with stupefying results. In 1789, William Wilberforce had a scale model of the Brookes built (with images from this plate pasted on its decks), which he presented to the House of Commons during one of his most passionate and persuasive speeches. Seller Inventory # 152040

Bibliographic Details

Title: The History of the Rise, Progress and ...
Publisher: Printed by R. Taylor and Co., Shoe-Lane, For Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, Paternoster-Row, London
Publication Date: 1808
Binding: Hardcover
Edition: 1st Edition