May 1, 2024 10:00 EST
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps
241
A scarce anti-slavery, precursor novel to Uncle Tom's Cabin
Estate / Collection: Property from the Rotondaro Collection
[SLAVERY]
HILDRETH, RICHARD. The Slave: Or, Memoirs of Archy Moore. Boston: John H. Eastburn, 1836. First edition. Two volumes. Original cloth backed boards with paper spine labels. 7 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches (19 x 11.5 cm); [4], 170; 163 pp. The spines with small losses to cloth and labels, other small stains and rubbing to boards, the rear joint of volume II strengthened and somewhat tight, small modern bookseller label to rear pastedown, ink signatures of Wm. H. Johnson to titles, penciled signatures of J. Simpson to front blanks, an unsophisticated copy in largely original condition.
This is the very rare first edition of the first major anti-slavery novel written in the United States. Written as a memoir of Archy Moore, the enslaved son of a white landowner and an African female slave, the story tells of Archy's marriage to another light-skinned slave and his subsequent escape from slavery to become a British sailor who fights against America. Taken as a true slave narrative, the book ran to seven editions before 1848. While not mentioned in her Key, it is thought that Harriet Beecher Stowe based several characters on those in The Slave. Following the success of Stowe's book, the true author Richard Hildreth reissued the book under the more provocative title The White Slave; or, Memoirs of a Fugitive. Sabin 31790.
Sold for $1,280
Estimated at $1,500 - $2,500
Includes Buyer's Premium
Estate / Collection: Property from the Rotondaro Collection
[SLAVERY]
HILDRETH, RICHARD. The Slave: Or, Memoirs of Archy Moore. Boston: John H. Eastburn, 1836. First edition. Two volumes. Original cloth backed boards with paper spine labels. 7 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches (19 x 11.5 cm); [4], 170; 163 pp. The spines with small losses to cloth and labels, other small stains and rubbing to boards, the rear joint of volume II strengthened and somewhat tight, small modern bookseller label to rear pastedown, ink signatures of Wm. H. Johnson to titles, penciled signatures of J. Simpson to front blanks, an unsophisticated copy in largely original condition.
This is the very rare first edition of the first major anti-slavery novel written in the United States. Written as a memoir of Archy Moore, the enslaved son of a white landowner and an African female slave, the story tells of Archy's marriage to another light-skinned slave and his subsequent escape from slavery to become a British sailor who fights against America. Taken as a true slave narrative, the book ran to seven editions before 1848. While not mentioned in her Key, it is thought that Harriet Beecher Stowe based several characters on those in The Slave. Following the success of Stowe's book, the true author Richard Hildreth reissued the book under the more provocative title The White Slave; or, Memoirs of a Fugitive. Sabin 31790.
Auction: Rare Books, Autographs & Maps, May 1, 2024
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Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on May 1, 2024 Totals $1.2 Million
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A Medieval Manuscript Rules of St. Augustine Achieves $102k
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
NEW YORK, NY -- Competitive bidding at Doyle’s May 1, 2024 auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps drove strong prices and a sale total that topped $1.2 million, surpassing expectations.
Featured in the sale was a fascinating selection of early manuscripts that achieved exceptional results. Highlighting the group was a 14th century manuscript of the Rules of St. Augustine from an English priory that soared over its $8,000-12,000 estimate to realize a stunning $102,100. The Rule of St. Augustine is among the earliest of all monastic rules, created about 400, and it was an influence on all that succeeded it. Other notable results included a 14th century Etymologiae of St. Isidore estimated at $5,000-8,000 that achieved $51,200 and a 15th century Prayer Book of Jehan Bernachier estimated at $10,000-15,000 that sold for $28,800.
A first edition of John James Audubon's octavo Birds of America sold for $41,600, far over its $25,000-35,000 estimate. Published in 1840-1844 in seven volumes, the first octavo edition was the final Birds of America publication overseen by Audubon in his lifetime.
The Fred Rotondaro Collection offered rare books and manuscripts on a range of subjects touching the African American experience in the United States over three centuries. A first edition copy of Frederick Douglass’ 1876 speech at the unveiling of the Freedman's Monument in Washington realized $12,800, far exceeding its $3,000-5,000 estimate. A first edition of the first issue of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin from 1852 also achieved $12,800.
Highlighting the range of offerings from the Ken Harte Collection of Natural History was a first edition Richard Bowdler Sharpe’s beautifully illustrated monograph of Kingfishers, 1868-71, that sold for $14,080, doubling its $6,000-8,000 estimate. It was accompanied by an inscribed copy of the rare unfinished chapter on the anatomy of the kingfisher by James Murie.
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction evaluation. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
For information, please contact Peter Costanzo at 212-427-4141 ext 248, Edward Ripley-Duggan at ext 234, or Noah Goldrach at ext 226, or email Books@Doyle.com
