An Enquiry Concerning the Intellectual and Moral Faculties and Literature of Negroes, H. Gregoire First Edition 1810

Gregoire, Henri Jean-Baptiste

First Edition

An Enquiry Concerning the Intellectual and Moral Faculties, and Literature of Negroes. H. Gregoire. Thomas Kirk: Brooklyn, 1810. Measures 6 x 9 inches. 253 pages. Original marbled boards. Henri Jean-Baptiste Gregoire was a French Catholic priest and the Constitutional bishop of Blois, a revolutionary leader who was an ardent abolitionist and supporter of universal suffrage. Gregoire dedicates the book to all those advocating on behalf of people of color, writing "Devoured with the desire to do injury, the wicket are always armed against him who dares to reveal their crimes, and prevent them from tormenting the human race. Against their guilty attempts let us oppose a wall of brass, but let us avenge ourselves by benefits. Let us be active." The text contains the history of the African race with particular focus on accomplishments and talents in an effort to establish the group as human beings. Abolitionist texts of the time worked to first establish the humanity of slaves in order to undermine their brutal mistreatment. Significant wear to boards with spine retaped. Front free endpaper loose and title and contents pages torn. Textblock clean and intact. Early ex libre note glued to front pastedown. Spine cracked where tape is missing and back board partially detached.

Item #18183

Price: $3,500.00