Frederick Douglass. MY BONDAGE AND MY FREEDOM. Part I. — Life as a Slave. Part II. — Life as a Freeman. New York and Auburn: Miller, Orton & Mulligan, 1855. First edition. Hardcover. Original blindstamped brown cloth-covered boards with gilt design and lettering on spine. 12mo; [i-v], vi-xxxi, [xxxii-xxxiii], 34-464pp. plus (4) pages of ads. With an introduction by Dr. James McCune Smith, frontispiece with engraved portrait of Douglass, and (2) additional engravings. Sabin 20714.

7 3/4 x 5 1/2 in.

Franklin County, NC Estate

My Bondage and My Freedom is the second of Douglass's three autobiographies. It significantly expands upon his first autobiography from 1845, and includes excerpts from his speeches as well as an introduction from the African American doctor and abolitionist James McCune Smith who describes Douglass's work as "an American book, for Americans, in the fullest sense of the idea. It shows that the worst of our institutions, in its worst aspect, cannot keep down energy, truthfulness, and earnest struggle for the right" (xxxi).

A good copy of this important title; scuffing to cloth with light stains, corners rubbed, cloth losses and tears, especially at corners and spine; one minor wormhole at back joint (with no other evidence of worming), small amount of cracking at front joint and hinges, separation from textblock, and (2) gatherings with slight separation at head, yet overall binding still sturdy; scattered foxing and light toning to interior, small tear at pastedown endpaper, slight separation at title page; missing first free endpaper, otherwise complete including most tissue guards.