{"product_id":"the-slave-or-memoirs-of-archy-moore-1836-extremely-rare-first-edition-in-original-boards-2-vols","title":"The Slave; or, Memoirs of Archy Moore (1836)  Extremely Rare First Edition in Original Boards  2 Vols.","description":"📚 The Slave; or, Memoirs of Archy Moore (1836) — Extremely Rare First Edition in Original Boards — 2 Vols.\n\nBoston: John H. Eastburn, 1836\nOctavo. Two volumes. Vol. I: 170 pp. • Vol. II: 163 pp. (one leaf and blanks lacking, pp. 59–60, supplied in facsimile).\n\nAn exceptionally scarce example of the true first edition of one of the earliest American anti-slavery novels—published sixteen years before Uncle Tom’s Cabin and now seldom seen in the original 1836 boards.\n\nWritten anonymously by Richard Hildreth, The Slave; or, Memoirs of Archy Moore was among the first literary works to attempt a realistic depiction of the lived experience of enslavement. Its unflinching treatment of plantation life sparked significant controversy upon release and divided abolitionist readers. Yet despite (or because of) this, it quickly became influential, saw several 1840s reprints, and was later revived under the new title “The White Slave” after the success of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.\n\nMany scholars have noted strong parallels of setting, themes, and narrative structure—leading to long-standing claims that Stowe drew inspiration from this very text. Whether true or not, Archy Moore remains a cornerstone in the evolution of American anti-slavery literature.\n\n\n---\n\n📖 Physical Description\n\nOriginal publisher’s boards with greenish muslin spines\n\nPrinted spine labels (worn but partially legible)\n\nVol. I: 170 pp.\n\nVol. II: 163 pp., lacking one leaf (pp. 59–60) — supplied in amateur facsimile from the original edition, making the text complete for reading\n\nCondition: Fair to Good at best\n\nSeveral leaves loose or laid in\n\nBackstrip of Vol. I largely perished\n\nModerate foxing and age toning consistent with period\n\nOccasional stains, edge wear, and handling marks\n\nDespite structural wear, the text is generally clean and legible, and the volumes remain in completely unrestored original state\n\n\n\nThis is an unusually complete survival in original boards, as most extant copies are rebound or institutional.\n\n\n---\n\n🌟 Why This Set Is Important\n\nOne of the earliest American anti-slavery novels (1836).\n\nPrecedes Uncle Tom’s Cabin by 16 years.\n\nIncreasingly rare on the market, especially:\n\nFirst edition\n\nIn original bindings\n\nWith both volumes present\n\n\nImportant in the history of American reform literature and the abolitionist movement.\n\nCited in Wright (p. 88) and Sabin (31970).\n\n\n\n---\n\n📦 Notes on Rarity \u0026amp; Completeness\n\nFirst editions in original boards very rarely appear on the open market today. Even defective copies routinely sell quickly due to the text’s historical importance and scarcity. This copy has one missing leaf replaced in facsimile for usability, and is priced well below copies in higher grade.\n\n\n---\n\n✨ A Perfect Piece For:\n\nCollectors of abolitionist history\n\nScholars of early American literature\n\nSerious rare-book enthusiasts\n\nDealers looking for a foundational 19th-century reform novel\n\nAnyone assembling a collection surrounding Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Stowe, or the roots of American protest literature","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52264026505436,"sku":null,"price":2800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0849\/4759\/9580\/files\/5c01c93b-il_fullxfull.8147321609_5psu.jpg?v=1786496770","url":"https:\/\/thekeenantiquarian.com\/products\/the-slave-or-memoirs-of-archy-moore-1836-extremely-rare-first-edition-in-original-boards-2-vols","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}