first edition Hardcover
1868 · New York
by Keckley, Elizabeth (Hobbs), 1824-1907
New York: Carleton, 1868. 1st ed. Hardcover. Good. frontis, 371p. plus 8p. publisher's advertisements dated 1868. Original reddish-brown (garnet?) cloth. 19 cm. Ends of backstrip frayed (some loss of cloth. Ex lib. (University of Nottingham Library) with numerous stamps and other markings (including a couple of withdrawn stamps) on front cover, endpapers, title-leaf and last page of text. Old green adhesive residue around base of backstrip. Sound and clean internally. Keckley was born a slave in Virginia ad writes about her suffering as a slave. Keckley also became a talented seamstress and dress-maker. White clients in St. Louis loaned her $1200 to freedom from enslavement for herself and her son in 1855. Keckley was later employed as a dress-maker by the wife of Jefferson Davis in Washington, DC, around 1860. She subsequently became dress-maker and "friend" to Mary Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's wife. Keckley's relationship with Mrs. Lincoln occupies much of this book. Publication of this book ended that connection.
(Inventory #: 95017)