Twelve Years A Slave

Written by

Northup, Solomon, American, 1808 - 1875

Published by

Derby and Miller, American, 1848 - 1853

Date

1853

On View

Concourse 3, C3 053

Exhibition

Slavery and Freedom

Medium

ink on paper with gold, cloth, and cardboard

Dimensions

H x W x D (Closed): 7 3/4 × 5 1/2 × 1 5/16 in. (19.7 × 14 × 3.4 cm)

H x W x D (Open): 7 3/4 × 11 1/2 × 4 1/8 in. (19.7 × 29.2 × 10.5 cm)

H x W x D (open at 90 degrees): 7 3/4 × 6 × 6 1/4 in. (19.7 × 15.2 × 15.9 cm)

H x W x D (open at 60 degrees): 7 3/4 × 5 3/4 × 5 3/4 in. (19.7 × 14.6 × 14.6 cm)

Description

This book is a first edition, seventeenth thousand printing copy of “Twelve Years A Slave Narrative of Solomon Northup, A Citizen of New York, Kidnapped in Washington City in 1841, and Rescued in 1853, and Rescued in 1853, From a Common Plantation Near the Red River, in Louisiana." The book has a brown cloth binding. The exterior spine is embossed with two lines running across the top and bottom of the spine. The title of the book has been embossed in gilt lettering [TWELVE/YEARS/A/SLAVE] across the top third of the spine and is surrounded by engraved flourishes. The name of the publishers [DARBY & MILLER] is embossed in gilt across the bottom of the spine. The front and back cover boards have been embossed with identical designs: two flourishes within two rectangles. The book has yellow end papers, a dedication to Harriet Beecher Stowe, a quote by Cowpee, an editor’s preface, twenty-two chapters and an appendix. The frontispiece is a portrait of Solomon Northup seated on a bench with his arms crossed. A facsimile of his signature is below the picture with a caption that reads, “IN HIS PLANTATION SUIT.” Three hundred and thirty-six pages with seven black and white plates.

Place printed

Auburn, Cuyahoga County, New York, United States, North and Central America

Place depicted

New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America

Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America

Classification

Slavery and Freedom Objects

Documents and Published Materials-Published Works

Movement

Abolitionist movement

Type

narratives

hardcover books

Topic

American South

Antislavery

Caricature and cartoons

Domestic slave trade

Free communities of color

Law

Literature

U.S. History, 1815-1861

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Object number

2014.262

Restrictions & Rights

Public Domain

Usage

CC0

GUID

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd537167978-c6a5-4b5c-8aad-8b8ccdd82f33