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96
(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION—NARRATIVES.) DAVIS, NOAH.
A
Narrative of the Life of Rev. Noah Davis, a Colored Man.
Engraved por-
trait frontispiece and additional plate of the African Baptist Chapel. 86, [4] pages.
12mo, original blind-stamped cloth with the title in gilt on the upper cover; cov-
ers slightly mottled, gilt faded but quite legible; text quite clean.
Baltimore, 1859
[400/600]
FIRST EDITION OF THIS NARRATIVE
.
Davis was born into slavery in Madison County,
VA in 1804.
97
●
(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION—NARRATIVES.) ANONYMOUS.
Aunt
Dinah, a True Narrative of a Pious Colored Woman, a Slave for Forty-
Four Years.
20 pages. 16mo, original decorative and printed buff wrappers; very
light wear.
Philadelphia: H.B. Ashmead, 1860
[400/600]
The story of Aunt Dinah Smith, born into slavery in Maryland in 1776. This slender vol-
ume was quite likely gotten up when she passed away in 1859 or 1860. When Dinah
was freed she became an ardent evangelist among her people and a tireless advocate of tem-
perance.
98
●
(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION—NARRATIVES.) [JACOBS, HAR-
RIET ANN].
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Edited by Lydia Maria
Child.
306 pages. 8vo, original cloth, re-cased with the original spine laid down;
occasional light foxing.
Boston: For the Author, 1861
[3,500/5,000]
FIRST EDITION OF A RARE AND GENUINE AUTOBIOGRAPHIC NARRATIVE
,
LONG
THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN THE WORK OF LYDIA MARIA CHILD
.
In the 1980s, scholar-
ship by Pace University professor Jean Yellin Fagan proved that Harriet Jacobs was the true
author of this well-written and important narrative. Child was her editor.
99
●
(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION—NARRATIVES.) ALECKSON, SAM.
Before the War and After the Union.
171 pages. Small 8vo, original red cloth, let-
tered in gilt; extremities lightly rubbed.
Boston: Golden Mind, 1929
[500/750]
FIRST EDITION
of this unusual and uncommon narrative. Aleckson (1852-1914) was
born to slaves in Charleston, SC. While Aleckson’s is not a “corroborated” narrative, in the
sense that it can be tied to any specific events; it is a compelling story that is generally
accepted by scholars of the genre today. The narrative is a series of vignettes, detailing the life
of Aleckson and other slaves that he knew. Aleckson, who paints a benevolent picture of his
master and his family, served with the Confederate army during the war, working as many
slaves did on the fortifications in and around Charleston. He settled in the North after the
war. The copyright for this narrative is given to Samuel Williams. We have been unable to
identify him. No copy at auction since 1966.