Mar 21, 2013 - Sale 2308

Sale 2308 - Lot 121

Price Realized: $ 480
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 600 - $ 800
PARKER'S OWN COPY (SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.) PARKER, THEODORE. A Letter to the People of the United States, Touching on the Matter of Slavery. 120 pages.Small 8v0, original dark brown, blind-stamped cloth lettered in gilt on the upper cover; a few chips from the spine along the front joint; tips rubbed; bookplate. Boston: Munroe, 1848
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first edition, parker's own copy with his ownership signature on the paste-down, and a presentation from him on the front free end-paper. "Rebecca L Duncan from her friend the author." Duncan was, no doubt a supporter and probably one of his parishioners. A number of Letters from her are found in the Theodore Parker papers. Parker (1810-1860) accepted an invitation from supporters to preach in Boston in January 1845. His supporters organized the 28th Congregational Society of Boston in December and installed Parker as minister in January 1846. His congregation, which included Louisa May Alcott, William Lloyd Garrison, Julia Ward Howe, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, grew to 7000. In Boston, Parker led the movement to combat the stricter Fugitive Slave Act enacted with the Compromise of 1850. It required law enforcement and citizens of all states- free states as well as slave states- to assist in the recovery of fugitive slaves. Parker called the law "a hateful statute of kidnappers", and helped organize open resistance to it in Boston. Parker and his followers formed the Committee of Vigilance, refusing to assist with the recovery of fugitive slaves, and helping to hide them. He was indicted but never tried for leading the protest against returning the runaway Anthony Burns to his owner. Together with his parishioners, Parker helped hide and smuggle Ellen and William Craft when Georgian slave catchers came to Boston to arrest them. Due to Parker's effort, from 1850 to the onset of the American Civil War in 1861, only two slaves were captured in Boston and transported back to the South.