Helper's The Impending Crisis of the South

Hinton Rowan Helper. THE IMPENDING CRISIS OF THE SOUTH: HOW TO MEET IT. Early reprint with "Fourth Thousand" stated on title page. New York: Burdick Brothers, 1857. Original blind-stamped cloth-covered boards re-backed with original backstrip preserved. 8vo; [i-v], vi-x, [11]-413pp. plus index. Sabin 31271; Howes H400.

7 5/8 x 5 3/8 in.

Hinton Rowan Helper (North Carolina, 1829-1909) was an abolitionist and writer. His best-known work was his 1857 statement against slavery. Despite the focus of the book, Helper's racist views were clear, and he admitted in the book's preface that he "considered my subject more particularly with reference to economic aspects...not with reference, except in a very slight degree, to its humanitarian or religious aspects" (v). Nevertheless, his writings were incredibly influential, and The Impending Crisis of the South "ranked second only to Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin in its influence for abolition.... and Helper's work was credited with helping elect Abraham Lincoln." (https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/hinton-rowan-helper-1829-1909/) The South's reaction to Helper's book was strong: copies were burned, it was illegal to sell the book, and men were even hanged for owning it (Bosmajian, Burning Books, 161).

Boards with mild scuffing, staining, and edge wear, bumped corners, and minor wear to spine ends; original boards well-restored with small areas of repair; hinges reinforced; front free endpaper lacking with remaining original pale yellow endpapers retained; endpapers with staining and offsetting with paper residue at the front; ownership signature on title page; interior with occasional grime and handling wear such as pencil marks or folds, light scattered foxing (heaviest at title and index), and expected mild toning.