2024-01 Raynors Americana Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/20/2024
Book, "Annual Register for the Year 1772", London, 1773 550pp., beautiful rebound loose, interior VG. Phillis Wheatley was born about 1753 in West Africa, was kidnapped in 1761 and taken to America on a slave ship called The Phillis (this is where she got her name). She was purchased in Boston by John Wheatley. Wheatley and his wife Mary instructed the young girl and encouraged her education including study of Latin and history. Phillis Wheatley was the first African American, the first slave, and the third woman in the United States to publish a book of poems. With an introduction, "Verses by a young African Negro Women, at Boston in New England ..." there is a complete printing of Wheatley's poem "Recollection." This was published in her book, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral", the first published book by an African American. It was published in London because Boston publishers refused.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.