The Life of William Wilberforce...

The Life of William Wilberforce (1872 edition) by his son, Samuel Lord Bishop of Winchester, published by John Murray, London. 452 pages, with engraved frontispiece, marbled page edges and endpapers, bound in blue calf with gilt pattern and lettering on the cover and spine. The writing on the front cover reads 'The Gift of the Haberdasher's Company'. This book tells the life story of William Wilberforce and the struggle to abolish the slave trade. Overall, in good condition - the binding is tight and all the pages are fine. However, the cover has been covered with a clear plastic film. Some wear to the leather can be seen underneath, along the edges of the cover and spine, with some discoloration to the back cover. Inside, a small clipping has been stuck onto the back of the flyleaf and opposite, there is an inscription from Newport Grammar School, dated 1894. Otherwise, apart from some slight yellowing to the pages, the text is in excellent condition.

-- The obituary of William Wilberforce in an intriguing volume of Gentleman's Magazine (July to December, 1833). This is the concluding volume of the original series Volume 103. Some of the items in this volume article running over the months British Empire in India, Saint James Chapel Croydon (with plate) much on Battles in Portugal between brothers of the Royal Family, Charing Palace (Kent), suppression of the slave trade in India, the obituary of ardent abolitionist and tireless anti-slavery advocate, William Wilberforce, and the address to the House of Representatives by President Jackson.  580 pages with 8 engraved plates, bound in half calf, chip to foot of spine, bound tight.
BACKGROUND: Gentleman's Magazine was founded in 1731, ceased publication in 1907, founder Edwin Cave who assumed the pen name of Sylvanus Urban.  The first general interest magazine to be published and the first to use the term magazine for a periodical journal, published monthly. Amongst its early contributors was Samuel Johnson who wrote parliamentary reports under the title "Debates of the Senate of Magna Lilliputia" during times when parliamentary reporting was banned. Each month every conceivable subject was covered plus regular features; parliamentary reports, foreign and domestic news, monthly historical chronicle (a monthly diary of current events), obituaries, marriages, appointments, bills of mortality (all excellent references for the genealogist with many names), reports and reviews of law cases, executions, new publications.  Of particular interest was the monthly section titled London Gazette which was important extracts from the official government newspaper often consisting of military and naval dispatches from commanders in the field.  Early copies were bound as 12 months, later as the magazine grew in size they were bound as 6 monthly sections.  Most months had a variety of engraved plates bound in. History as it happened written by people who were there, a fascinating read or a valuable reference work for the historian.

-- October 1, 1790 Literary Magazine & British Review which is 240 pages long. 8" x 5". Some of the subjects are the stock prices, poetry, Abolition of the Slave Trade, Life of G. Buchanan, General Principals of Political Economy and much, much more. William Wilberforce's famous abolition speech, delivered in the House of Commons on Tuesday, May 12, 1789 is the backdrop to the article about the abolition of the slave trade. In the article on the Abolition of the Slave Trade, the writer states, "At a time when Parliament are agitating the question of the slave trade, it is natural, as well as proper, to enquire into its nature and effect. The project for its destruction reflects an honour on the English, and affords a fresh proof to the world of humanity which has been deemed their characteristic. That a scheme like this should have met with impediments, might have been readily expected, as it concerns a commerce-sanctioned by long usage and supported by strong and powerful interest. I think, however, I can foretell, without prophetic inspiration, that opposition will prove fruitless, and will serve to only complete the triumph..."

-- Rare book entitled "An Abstract of the Evidence Delivered Before a Select Committee of the House of Commons in the Years 1790 and 1791, on the Part of the Petitioners for the Abolition of the Slave Trade".  The title on the front cover reads: "Evidence on the Slave Trade".  This book was published by the American Reform Tract and Book Society (1855) and has 117 pages. The book is about the evils of slavery and of the slave trade.  There are a list of witnesses who give accounts of the capture of people in Africa and the ensuing enslavement.  The book makes a case against slavery.  It is truly a collector's item.