Black Beauty

by Sewell, Anna

First published under the full title: Black Beauty: His Grooms and Companions. The Autobiography of a Horse. Translated from the Equine, by Jarrold and Sons London in 1877, the novel now known as simply Black Beauty was written by English author Anna Sewell. The first American editions from 1890 have the added title 'The “Uncle Tom's Cabin” of the Horse' as promoters of the novel hoped it would do for animal welfare what Stowe's novel did for the abolition of slavery.

Anna Sewell was born in 1820 in Great Yarmouth, England. She suffered an accident as a child that left her crippled and dependent on carriage horses as her main source of mobility. She began writing Black Beauty in 1871, and continued through 1877 though her health was deteriorating. In December 1876 she wrote in her diary "I have been confined to the house and to my sofa, from time to time, when I am able, been writing what I think will turn out a little book, its special aim being to induce kindness, sympathy and an understanding treatment of horses". Her mother, Mary Wright Sewell, was a successful children's author, and Anna helped edit her books, and later her mother helped Anna transcribe Black Beauty.

An animal autobiography, told by the magnificent black horse himself, this is the dramatic and heartwarming tale of Black Beauty's life-from his idyllic days on a country squire's estate to his harsh fate as a London cab horse. Although not originally intended as a children's novel, but for people who work with horses, it soon became a children's classic. Two years after the release of Black Beauty in the United States there were one million copies in circulation. Today Black Beauty is one of the best-selling books in history, with over 50 million copies sold in 50 different languages.

The earliest dated inscribed copies are Christmas 1877. Although the book was an immediate bestseller, Sewell lived just long enough to see her first and only novel become a success – she died on 25 April 1878.

First Edition Identification

First editions of The Autobiography of a Horse. Translated from the Original Equine were published by Jarrold and Sons in London on November 24, 1877. 247 pages with 8 pages of publisher’s advertisements in the rear. The 'C' binding was probably the standard trade issue, with 'A' and 'B' being either publisher's presentation bindings, or a more expensive deluxe issues. 

The first US edition was published in Boston by The American Humane Education Society in 1890. First US edition. First issue with Introductory Chapter dated February 12, 1890 and ads on endpapers dated March, 1890.

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jaweriajawed, Jan 31, 2011
On Sep 8, 2005, marydeme said
While living at Squire Gordon's country estate, the spirited young horse, Black Beauty, is well taken care of an happy. But when the squire is forced to sell off his horses, Black Beauty's life changes as he is passed from one curel master to another. After much hardship and perseverance, Black Beauty finds a home full of love and kindness.

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Black Beauty
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Black Beauty

by Sewell, Anna

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Used
Published
1877
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London: Jarrold and Sons, 1877. First edition, first printing, published by Jarrold and Sons in 1877. Carter's variant C binding. The book is firmly bound in the publisher's brown cloth, lettered and decorated in gilt and black. The boards are a little marked with some light repairs to the corners and spine ends. The text block is a little… Read more about this item
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Black Beauty
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Black Beauty

by Sewell, Anna

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First Edition
Published
1877
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London: Jarrold and Sons, 1877. First Edition. Good. First edition, first printing of the classic equine novel; in Carter's variant C binding. Good. Cloth well-worn and soiled, textblock edge lightly spotted, inner hinges repaired, pencil markings to brown coated endsheets, effaced owner name to first blank sheet and owner name in pencil to title page, light cigar smoke… Read more about this item
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Black Beauty; The Autobiography of A Horse (Young Folks' Edition, No. 180)
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Black Beauty; The Autobiography of A Horse (Young Folks' Edition, No. 180)

by Anna Sewell

Condition
Used - Good
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Published
1915
Binding
Soft cover
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Chicago, IL: M.A. Donohue and Company, 1915 M.A. Donohue and Company, Chicago, IL. 1915 (?). Not Dated. Softcover/Trade Wraps. No Edition Stated. Young Folks' Edition No. 180. Book is tight, square, and unmarked. Book Condition: Good; wear to edges, head, and tail; rubbing to panels; moisture stain at head. No DJ. Pictorial paper over thin boards. Boards are not bent… Read more about this item
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BLACK BEAUTY

BLACK BEAUTY

by Anna Sewell

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Vintage Copy
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N.D.
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New York: Grosset & Dunlap. N.D.. Vintage Copy. Hardcover. Very Good+ in a Very Good dust jacket. Rubbing, open tearing along panel edges. .
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Black Beauty
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Black Beauty

by Anna Sewell

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Used - Very Good
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Reprint
Published
1901
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Cloth
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UK: Jarrold, 1901. Reprint . Cloth. Very Good/No Jacket. 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. 53rd Edition 1901. A nice early edition of this classic work bound in the original floral decorative cloth. Illustrated with drawings throughout the book. Book is very good++ and very bright. Contents good.A good example. More images can be taken upon… Read more about this item
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BLACK BEAUTY
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BLACK BEAUTY

by Sewell, Anna

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Hardback
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Published by Jarrolds. Hardback. Good. Illustrated by Aldin, Cecil. Good condition with no wrapper. 18 colour plates, specially drawn for this edition. Dark green cloth. Gilt titles to spine. Elaborate gilt decoration to front cover. 291 pages. Spine and corners bumped and worn. Small splits in cloth to top and bottom of spine. Gilt from spine has is… Read more about this item
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Black Beauty

Black Beauty

by Anna Sewell

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No date
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Hardcover
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The Thames Publishing Co, No date. Hardcover. Very Good Condition/No Dust Jacket. Book Regent Classics Series. Red boards black title to spine. 248 pages. Spine, corners and edges bumped. One edge chpped and grubby. Grubby marks to outer page edges. Item Type: Book. No Dust Jacket. Category: Children; Horses; Fiction. Please contact H4o Books if you… Read more about this item
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Black Beauty
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Black Beauty

by Anna Sewell

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Published
c. 1910.
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Toronto, Ontario, CAN
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Jarrold & Sons., , c. 1910.. In very good condition. Lacks dust jacket; covers and corners slightly worn. . Binding: Decorative publisher’s cloth, pictorial and titled on both upper board and flat spine., Notes: The Torontonian Berence James Thomson (1904-1970) was member of the Upper Canada Law Society., Size: 8vo, Illustration: Illustrated frontis plus as listed (9… Read more about this item
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Black Beauty; illustrated by Lionel Edwards/ Anna Sewell

Black Beauty; illustrated by Lionel Edwards/ Anna Sewell

by Sewell, Anna (1820-1878)

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Used
Edition
First Edition
Published
1946
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Hardcover
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Galway, IRL
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London: Peter Lunn, 1946. First Edition. Hardcover. Good copy in the original gilt-blocked cloth. Spine bands and panel edges somewhat bumped and rubbed. Pages tanned as with age. Remains quite well-preserved overall. Physical description: 95, [1] p.: col. ill. ; 19 x 25 cm. Audience: juvenile. Subjects: Horses; Juvenile fiction. Genre: Fiction.
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Black Beauty

Black Beauty

by Anna Sewell

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Published
1986
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The Easton Press, 1986. Children's Classics. Illustrated by Lucy Kemp-Welch. Hardcover. No dust jacket. Used - Near Fine condition. Easton Press bookplate with former owner's name affixed to front fly leaf. Gilt slightly worn off of 'Y' in title. Else Fine / As New. Binding and text block are tight, bright, and clean with no other ownership markings. Bound in… Read more about this item
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BLACK BEAUTY

BLACK BEAUTY

by Anna Sewell

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Philadelphia: Henry Altemus. Hardcover. Fair in boards. Edge wear and soiling. Spine's cloth chipped. Rear endpaper detached. No date of publication indicated. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall .
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BLACK BEAUTY
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BLACK BEAUTY

by Anna Sewell

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Used - VG
Jacket Condition
No Jacket as Issued
Edition
1st Thus
Published
1984
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10
070642154X
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Mansonville, Quebec, CAN
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London- UK: Octopus Books, 1984. BLACK BEAUTY- Anna Sewell- Illustrated by Mike Grimsdale- Octopus Books-London-UK- 1984- ISBN 0-7064-2154-X- 1st Thus- Hardcover:-4to--VG/ no dj as issued- padded blue leatherette-with pastedown illustration and gilt titles and scrollwork-207 pp are gilt on all edges. First few pages have a small water discolorations.-color illustrations throughout- SEE PHOTOS- The age old classic in a perfect… Read more about this item
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Black Beauty
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Black Beauty

by Anna Sewell

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New Edition
Published
1899
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Cloth
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UK: Jarrold, 1899. New Edition . Cloth. Very Good/No Jacket. 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. 48th Edition 1899. A nice early edition of this classic work. In a new decorative cloth format. Illustrated with drawings throughout the book. Book is very good and bright. Edges lightly rubbed. Contents good. End papers age… Read more about this item
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Black Beauty
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Black Beauty

by Anna Sewell

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1908
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Book in Good condition. Cover becoming worn at hinges, some crumpling of corners and spine edges, but otherwise only slightly discolored. Pages are clean and tight, just yellowed from age. First page inscribed to previous owner.
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Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse
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Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse

by Anna Sewell

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First edition
Published
1930
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Cloth
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London: Jarrolds, 1930 . First edition. Cloth. Very Good. 10.5" by 8". Cecil Aldin. Cecil Aldin's illustrated edition of the children's classic 'Black Beauty', illustrated throughout with charming colour plates. The first edition thus of this children's classic, being the first edition adorned with Cecil Aldin's illustrations.'Black Beauty' is one of the most popular children's novels ever written.… Read more about this item
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Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse

Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse

by Sewell, Anna

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1
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Hard Cover
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Palatine, Illinois, USA
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New York: Grosset & Dunlap. Very Good with no dust jacket. 1. Hard Cover. Red boards, blue lettering on cover and spine, illustrated endpapers. . Volume shows some wear, mostly around corners and head and heel of spine, top corners bumped, pages tanned, else near fine. VERY GOOD. . Small 8vo 7½" - 8" tall.… Read more about this item
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BLACK BEAUTY

BLACK BEAUTY

by Sewell, Anna

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Vintage Copy
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Pomona, New York, USA
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Chicago: Goldsmith Publishing Company. Vintage Copy. Hardcover. Good in a Good dust jacket. Hinge has started. Chips and tears to jacket. Sunnign to jacket at spine. Boards are bowed. No date. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall .
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Black Beauty :the Autobiography of a Horse
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Black Beauty :the Autobiography of a Horse

by Anna Sewell et al;

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Used - Very Good Plus
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Published
1906
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Hardcover
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N. Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, 1906. cloth hard cover is in very good plus condition with slight wear with no dust jacket. boards are green cloth with gold gilt lettering to front cover and spine. has eight illustrations including the frontispiece by louis f. grant.has a gift inscription and date of christmas 1906 on the fly page otherwise is unmarked… Read more about this item
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Black Beauty (The Nelson Classics)

Black Beauty (The Nelson Classics)

by SEWELL, Anna

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London: Thomas Nelson and Sons. Hardcover. Fine/Good. 16mo. 278pp. Illustrated by Douglas Relf. Fine in very good price-clipped dustwrapper with owner's name in red ink on rear panel, edges rubbed.
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Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse
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Black Beauty: The Autobiography of a Horse

by Sewell, Anna; Illustrated by Cecil Aldin

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Used - Very good
Published
1913
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Hardcover
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New York: Frederick A. Stokes Co, 1913. Hardcover. Very good. Presumed first edition with Aldin's illustrations?! Gilt, black and white stamped blue cloth boards, octavo, illustrated in color. Book has rubbing and soil to boards and spine, mild wear to corners and spine ends, binding tight, previous owner's signature and date (1916) to front endpaper, otherwise text clean… Read more about this item
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