[Rarebooks] FS: A SAMMELBAND OF SIX 1830s ANTI-SLAVERY PAMPHLETS including the very scarce THE NARRATIVE OF AMOS DRESSER

[Charles Agvent]

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ANTI-SLAVERY. A SAMMELBAND OF SIX PAMPHLETS including the very scarce 
THE NARRATIVE OF AMOS DRESSER. First Edition. Original drab green cloth 
(4-1/4" x 7") with "SLAVERY" in gilt lettering on the spine. A 
collection of 6 pamphlets on the subject as follows: 1.) THE 
CONSTITUTION OF THE AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY: WITH THE DECLARATION 
OF THE NATIONAL ANTI-SLAVERY CONVENTION AT PHILADELPHIA, DECEMBER, 1833, 
AND THE ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC, ISSUED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE 
SOCIETY, IN SEPTEMBER, 1835. New-York: American Anti-Slavery Society. 
1838. 12 pages. Sabin 81824. 2.) WESLEY: THOUGHTS UPON SLAVERY (Caption 
title). n.d. Postscript dated 1791. 24 pages. First published in 1774, 
this edition dates to the 1830s. Sabin 102680. 3.) DOES THE BIBLE 
SANCTION SLAVERY? 12 pages (also paginated 133 - 144). Appears to be 
removed from a larger work that we have been unable to identify. 4.) 
[BROWN, John] AN ADDRESS TO THE PRESBYTERIANS OF KENTUCKY, PROPOSING A 
PLAN FOR THE INSTRUCTION AND EMANCIPATION OF THEIR SLAVES. BY A 
COMMITTEE OF THE SYNOD OF KENTUCKY. Newburyport: Charles Whipple 1836. 
36 pages. A five point plan for gradual emancipation of slaves, their 
education, and religious instruction. First published in 1835: A 
terrific attack on the slave system, and an excoriation of Church 
members who have practiced cruelties that are likened to "loathsome 
ulcers." Sabin 81798. 5.) THE NARRATIVE OF AMOS DRESSER, WITH STONE'S 
LETTERS FROM NATCHEZ,-- AN OBITUARY NOTICE OF THE WRITER, AND TWO 
LETTERS FROM TALLAHASSEE, RELATING TO THE TREATMENT OF SLAVES. New York: 
American Anti-Slavery Society 1836. 42 pages. Illustrated with 3 
woodcuts in the text. Sabin 20924. Not in Work. Dresser's narrative 
gives an account of his trial and whipping in Nashville for having 
circulated anti-slavery literature. 6.) [SOUTHARD (Nathaniel)]. WHY WORK 
FOR THE SLAVE (Title from caption on first page). [New York? 1838]. 12 
pages. Sabin 88237. Both endpapers lacking, light to moderate foxing 
throughout. Early light green bookplate of the Library of the Young 
Mens' Literary Society, M'Connelsville, O. on the front pastedown. Some 
soiling and staining to the covers. Very Good.

While several of these pamphlets are uncommon, the Amos Dresser 
Narrative is quite scarce with no copy appearing at auction since 1921. 
While traveling through the South selling bibles, Dresser took his 
carriage to a Nashville shop for repairs. There a workman found a store 
of anti-slavery letters, books, and pamphlets. According to Dresser, 
"This added considerably to the general excitement, which I afterwards 
learned, was prevailing in relation to slavery--and in a short time it 
was noised about that I had been 'circulating incendiary periodicals 
among the free colored people, and trying to excite the slaves to 
insurrection.'" Dresser was arrested, and an impromptu Committee of 
Vigilance convened at the courthouse to try him for violating the 
non-existent law of possessing anti-slavery material. Dresser informed 
the Committee that the pamphlets were for his own use and not for 
dissemination. Nonetheless, the committee found Dresser guilty of being 
a member of an anti-slavery society and of possessing periodicals 
published by the American Anti-Slavery Society. He was sentenced to 
twenty public lashes and ordered to leave Nashville within twenty-four 
hours. The punishment was carried out in front of a large crowd, and 
Dresser was escorted out of town that night. (#016937)        $5,000.00

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