Uncle Tom's Cabin or Life Among The Lowly
by Harriet Beecher Stowe
(John P. Jewett & Company - First Edition, Second Printing 1852)
Asking Price: £800.00 (excl. post & packing)
Thank you for your interest but these books have now been sold
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An excellent rebound two volume set of this very rare First Edition, second printing (10th Thousand) of one of most influential works in the history of American literature. First published on 20th March 1852 Uncle Tom's Cabin was an immediate sensation and the limited initial print run of just 5,000 copies quickly sold out and was followed by a second printing of a further 5,000 copies within days.
These two volumes were clearly purchased very soon after distribution of the second printing as evidenced by the gift dedication on the front free endpaper of Volume 1 which states 'To John Arthur Laurence of British Army, from his friend Amos Laurence. Boston, April 13 1852'.
In America Uncle Tom's Cabin was the best-selling novel of the 19th century (selling 300,000 copies in its first year alone and coming second only to the Bible in terms of the most popular book overall). It is widely credited with helping to fuel the abolitionist cause in the Northern states in the 1850s and contributing to the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861. When Abraham Lincoln met the author in 1862 he's quoted as having said "So you're the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war!"
Book Condition - Volume 1 - Good+: Recently rebound half leather and marbled boards. Plain endpapers, gift inscription (April 13th 1852) on front free endpaper with small newspaper cutting on the reverse commenting on the rapid sale of the book since publication and announcing the death of veteran statesman Henry Clay. Title page with vignette, stating 'Vol I. Tenth Thousand. Boston: John P. Jewett & Company. Cleveland, Ohio: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington. 1852'; reverse (copyright page) states printing by the 'Press of Geo. C. Rand, Wood Cut And Book Printer, Cornhill, Boston.' (we understand Hobart & Robbins were used for the first print run and subsequent printings but not for the second print run). Page numbering x,[13]-312 plus 3 full page plate engravings. Securely bound, internally clean with some age toning and light foxing, light to moderate toning / soiling to paper edges.
Book Condition - Volume 2 - Good+: Recently rebound as per Volume 1. Title page with vignette, stating 'Vol II. Tenth Thousand. Boston: John P. Jewett & Company. Cleveland, Ohio: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington. 1852'; reverse (copyright page) states printing by the 'Press of Geo. C. Rand, Wood Cut And Book Printer, Cornhill, Boston.' Page numbering iv, [5]-322 plus 3 full page plate engravings (plate opposite page 63 loose). Securely bound, internally clean with some age toning and light foxing, light to moderate toning / soiling to paper edges (significant edge soiling to a small number of pages). Fascinating contemporary press cutting detailing an appalling injustice inflicted on a freed slave living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania glued to rear endpaper.
Total weight with packaging 1.2Kg.
For full size, high resolution photographs (or additional photographs of specific features you would like to inspect more closely) please contact us using the email link in the left hand panel.
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