An Epistle of Caution and Advice, concerning the Buying and Keeping of Slaves by [BENEZET, Anthony] - 1754

Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by James Chattin, in Church-Alley, 1754. Softcover. Fine. A scarce colonial era antislavery pamphlet from the library of James Moon, a prominent Philadelphia Quaker who played a leading role in the long-running Quaker campaign against slavery in the 18th Century.

First edition. Octavo (16.5 x 10.5 cm / 6.5" x 4"). pp. [2 (title page/verso blank)] [1] 2-8. Stitched in contemporary plain waste paper wrappers with a blank fly leaf at the front and back. Moon's ownership signature written in ink on the inside of the front fly leaf, and at the top of the title page recto and verso. Short-title in manuscript by Moon on the front wrap. There is an additional early, small ownership signature on the front wrap. A watermark is present at the head of the spine fold. Small, early finger print impressed in ink on the back fly leaf, a fine copy.

Anthony Benezet's historically important antislavery tract was adopted by the Society of Friends at the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. It was inspired by John Woolman, a leading Quaker abolitionist from Burlington County, New Jersey. In 1746 Woolman travelled through Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina observing slavery firsthand. His essay: "Some Considerations On the Keeping of Negroes" was also first printed by James Chattlin in 1754.

The caption title at the head of p. [1] reads: "An Epistle of Caution and Advice, &c. / From our Yearly Meeting for the Provinces of Pennsylvania, and New-Jersey, held at Burlington by Adjournments from the 14th Day of the Ninth Month, 1754, to the 19th of the same inclusive." One of the earliest abolitionist texts printed in the United States, rarely seen in the trade. A fine, previously unrecorded copy in a contemporary original wrapper.

*Evans* 7201; Hildeburn, *Pennsylvania* 1359; Smith, *Friends' Books* I, p. 761; *ESTC* W20271.