The Slave States of America

Item Details

London, Fisher, Son and Co., 1942, Half Leather

First Edition, Very Good

The book is notable for its contemporary British abolitionist perspective and provides early 19th-century European commentary on the contradictions of American slavery and freedom.

James Silk Buckingham spent four years in the United States, and in 1839 travelled across the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia and Alabama to observe at first hand the inhumane treatment of slaves in a system that showed “reckless indifference to human life”. This two-volume work documents Buckingham's findings and argues that the USA should follow Britain's example in abolishing slavery. Buckingham describes the use of slaves in industries as diverse as gold mining, cotton manufacturing, railways, canals, and agriculture. He highlights the economic, social and political implications of a change to free labor, and also relations between the slaves and their employers. 

Two Volumes. Octavo. [xvi] 587pp with 4 engraved plates, [xii] 584pp with 4 engraved plates. Both volumes beautifully re-cased with green half calf Morocco maintaining the original marbled boards and red leather spine labels. First gathering of volume one slightly loose. Howes B923.