Life and Times of Frederick Douglass

Lot 140
16.10.2025 10:00UTC +01:00
Classic
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Lieu de l'événementRoyaume-Uni, London
Commissionsee on Website%
ID 1472062
Lot 140 | Life and Times of Frederick Douglass
Valeur estimée
$ 7 000 – 10 000
DOUGLASS, Frederick (1818-1895). Life and Times of Frederick Douglass. Hartford: Park Publishing, Co., 1881.

"I left there as a slave, and returned as a freeman..."

An extraordinary presentation copy of his autobiography inscribed to the Maryland attorney who facilitated Douglass' return visit to Wye Plantation: Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper: "To Honorable John L. Thomas with the respect, esteem and high regards of the Author Washington D. C. May 8th 1882." In his memoir, Douglass wrote that he had contemplated a return to Wye Plantation, from where he had escaped, for some time. When Douglass mentioned this intention to John L. Thomas, the Collector of the Port of Baltimore, Thomas encouraged him to travel there, mentioning that he often sailed to the Eastern Shore aboard his revenue cutter, the Guthrie, and offered to take him. Douglass demurred, fearing that the grandson of Governor Edward Lloyd, his enslaver, would not make him welcome. But Thomas advised that the "present Col. Lloyd," was "a liberal-minded gentleman, and he had not doubt would take a visit from me very kindly." Douglass was not disappointed as he was warmly received by Lloyd's great grandson, Howard Lloyd. He recounts his bittersweet return in this same autobiography:

"I saw once more the stately chimneys of the grand old mansion which I had last seen from the deck of the Sallie Lloyd when a boy. I left there as a slave, and returned as a freeman; I left there unknown to the outside world, and returned well known; I left there on a freight boat, and returned on a revenue cutter; I left on a vessel belonging to Col. Edward Lloyd, and returned on one belonging to the United States" (p.540).

Extremely Rare. According to RBH, this is the only presentation copy Douglass' autobiography to appear at auction (and one other in the dealer records).

Octavo (inscription leaf and title leaf slightly loose). Original red cloth, spine gilt-lettered (rubbed at extremities); half morocco slipcase. Provenance: Pacific Book Auctions, 16 September 2004, lot 102.
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