1st Ed. of Phillis Wheatley's "Poems on Various Subjects", Repaired Cover; Facsimile Frontispiece & Title Page

A first edition printing of Phillis Wheatley's "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral". London: Printed for A. Bell, Bookseller, Aldgate; and sold by Mssrs. Cox and Berry, King Street, Boston, 1773. Octavo, v, [9]-124pp, plus a Table of Contents and a page of publisher's advertisements. The original engraved frontispiece of Wheatley and title page are not present however, facsimiles of both have been printed and bound together with the book's surviving contents. Volume is bound between marble paper boards, featuring expected surface rubbing and bumped corners, with uncracked leather spine. Exposed binding tape visible on inside of front and back pastedowns, near middle. Pages exhibit darkened age toning, with degrees of scattered foxing and soiling throughout; moderate tearing at edges and sections missing at lower left margin (between dedication page and p. 67) with text largely unaffected. Additional areas of letters having been cut from pages. Fair condition; despite flaws, a scarce edition of Wheatley's singular work. In our last auction, a similarly looking but not restored example fetched over $90,000!

Phillis Wheatley Peters, (ca.?1753-1784) was an American author who is considered the first African-American author of a published book of poetry. She was kidnapped from her home in West Africa and subsequently sold into slavery at the age of seven or eight. She was bought by the Wheatley family of Boston who taught her to read and write and encouraged her poetry when they saw her talent. In 1773, during a trip to London, Wheatley met several prominent people who became her patrons and facilitated the publication of her "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral" on September 1, 1773. The book was a great success and brought her fame both in England and the American colonies, including praise from such prominent figures as George Washington. Wheatley was emancipated by the Wheatleys shortly after the publication of her book of poems, and Phillis went on to marry John Peters, a grocer. Tragically, the couple suffered the loss of all three of their children at a young age, and Phillis would die in poverty and obscurity at the age of 31.

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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