(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION--RACIAL THEORIES.) SMITH, SAMUEL STANHOPE. An Essay on the Causes of the Variety of Complexion and Figure in the Human Species. 4to, [iv], 1-111 pages. Recent polished calf-backed marbled paper-covered boards; original drab grey wrappers bound in, with the name of the original (19th century) owner David Pinkerton in ink on the front wrapper; bookplate of noted 19th century scientist Jacob Solis Cohen on the front paste-down. Philadelphia, 1787
The first edition of Smith's famous work, having been delivered in a speech before the Philosophical Society as well as serialized in the American Mercury Magazine. Smith held quite progressive beliefs regarding both slavery and ethnology, theorizing that field slaves were darker complexioned than house slaves.
