Description
First edition of William Ray’s Horrors of Slavery: or, The American Tars in Tripoli, rebound in a full leather binding.
Twelvemo, 298pp. Full modern calf, title in gilt over red leather spine label, gilt double-ruled bands, new endpapers. Toning and foxing throughout, soiling to pages and outer edge of text block. Faint dampstain to upper corner of text block, not affecting text. A few short tears and minor pencil notations. Previous owner’s name beautifully penned in ink on front flyleaf and dated May 6th 1812. (Shaw & Shoemaker 16035) (Sabin 68034) A nice example of this personal narrative of an American sailor imprisoned by Barbary pirates in the early nineteenth century.
Full title: Horrors of Slavery: Or, The American Tars in Tripoli. Containing an Account of the Loss and Capture of the United States Frigate Philadelphia; Treatment and Sufferings of the Prisoners; Description of the Place; Manners, Customs, &c. of the Tripolitans; Public Transactions of the United States with that Regency, Including Gen. Eaton’s Expedition; Interspersed with Interesting Remarks, Anecdotes, and Poetry, on Various Subjects. Written during Upwards of Nineteen Months’ Imprisonment and Vassalage among the Turks.
