The White Slave: Or, Memoirs of a Fugitive

London: Ingram, Cooke, & Co., 1852. Cloth. Very Good. 8" by 5.5". Not Stated. The first English illustrated edition of this early abolitionist novel, written by nineteenth-century American author Richard Hildreth. The White Slave: or, Memoirs of a Fugitive narrates the story of slave life and slavery in Virginia. It is considered to be, along with Uncle Tom's Cabin, one of the first abolitionist novels of all time. Written by Richard Hildreth and published anonymously in 1836, it tells the story of 'Archy', a fictional slave on a plantation in Virginia. Upon publication, it was often viewed as a genuine slave narrative, and went through several editions from 1836 to 1848. It is similar to Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin in its use of sentimental imagery, but it differs in that it provides much more obvious anti-slavery themes. The first English illustrated edition of this work. Illustrated with an engraved frontispiece, vignette title page, and a further seven engraved plates. Collated and complete. Including two pages of advertisements to the front and the half title page. In the original embossed cloth binding. Externally, smart, with some shelf wear and bumping to the head and tail of the spine and extremities. A small amount of splitting to the cloth and at the head and tail of the spine and head of the front joint. Internally, front hinge is strained. Plate opposite page 62 is detached but present. A few spots to the pages, which are otherwise generally bright and clean. Very Good