A Rare and Inscribed Copy of Wilbur H. Siebert's The Underground Railroad From Slavery to Freedom

Wilbur H. Siebert. THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1899. Second printing (first printed 1898, with "Reprinted, September 1899" on copyright). Author inscription on the first free end paper: "To Dr. J. R. Robertson, / with the compliments / of the author." Burgundy cloth-covered boards with gilt-lettered and ruled spine, and top edge gilt. 8vo; xxvi, 478 with index, [6 ads]pp. With frontispiece, fold-out map of "'UNDERGROUND' ROUTES TO CANADA," both in-text illustrations and full-page plates, and an introduction by Albert Bushnell Hart. Howes S450.

8 3/4 x 6 in.

From a Private North Carolina Collection

Wilbur H. Siebert (1866-1961) was an historian from Ohio and a professor at Ohio State University. He wrote several books, scholarly papers, and articles. The Underground Railroad From Slavery to Freedom is perhaps his best known book. It is an extremely scarce title, and here with the additional uncommon inscription. In our research we found that when Siebert did sign his work, it was common for him to do so with "compliments from the author."

Covers scuffed and with some wear to extremities; a very sturdy volume with only slight separation from text block at head; occasional minor gutter wear with slightly heavier wear before frontispiece with first free endpaper and half-title slightly loose; interior with expected toning, occasional light grime, scuff, or edge wear, and one leaf with a 1-in. tear; the map with edge toning and although complete, unfortunately detached at one fold. A very good copy.