A hardcover copy of Rev. Legh Richmond, "The Negro Servant" (New York: G. Lane & P.P. Sanford for the Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church…). Original one quarter binding in green leather with the title in gilt, and marbleized paper-covered board covers. Two previous owners have signed and inscribed their names on the front and back loose endpapers; the inscription in the front reads: "Miss Harriet / Parthien Cooks [sic] / book March / the 14 1856" while the one in the back reads: "Jennie Gouefh / Dec. 2, 1904 / Marietta, PA." Expected wear including scattered loss and rubbing to the corners and edges. Scattered minor to moderate foxing within. Else good to very good. 40pp. 3.5" x 5.5" x .375." 24mo.

"The Negro Servant" is an abolitionist tract which tells the story of an enslaved African man named William, then in the service of a British naval officer, who asks to be baptized. The Reverend Legh Richmond (1772-1827), a Church of England minister, presents the story as an appeal for the immediate abolition of the slave trade. He wondered aloud if "some of these ships are bound to Africa, in quest of that most infamous object of merchandise, a cargo of black slaves. Inhuman traffic for a nation that bears the name of Christian!… When shall the endeavors of that truly Christian friend of the oppressed negro be crowned with success in the abolition of this wicked and disgraceful traffic?" (p. 17). (In subsequent editions of Richmond's book after the slave trade had been abolished in the United Kingdom in 1833, a footnote reports the happy news.)

Legh Richmond originally published "The Negro Servant"-- along with other popular conversion narratives -- in the "Christian Guardian" between 1809-1814. In 1814, his tracts about the poor but pious were published in one volume, "Annals of the Poor," which was widely distributed and translated into many languages.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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