(SLAVERY) Autobiography of James L Smith Including Remini

Sale 2663 - Lot 395

Price Realized: $ 2,250

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 1,200 - $ 1,800

(SLAVERY.) Autobiography of James L. Smith, Including . . . Reminiscences of Slave Life. 3 plates. xiii, [3], 150 pages. 8vo, publisher's cloth gilt, minor wear and light staining; frontispiece and front free endpaper coming detached, minimal dampstaining; 1899 signature on front pastedown. Norwich, CT, 1881

Set Alert for Similar Items

Additional Details

First edition. James Lindsay Smith (circa 1813-1890) describes his childhood under slavery in Virginia, his 1838 escape, and his life in Norwich, Connecticut as a minister and shoemaker. He did not serve in the Civil War, but devotes a long historical chapter to "Colored Men in the War." Afro-Americana 9524; Blockson 9202.

This copy is signed and dated "Oct. 2/99" by Fountain Peyton (1861-1951), who was born into slavery in Virginia, escaped with his mother as a contraband during the Civil War, graduated from Howard University in 1890, became a trailblazing attorney in Washington, and served as chair of the District's school board.