FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION/ASSOCIATION COPY, OF THE BLACK MAN OF THE SOUTH, AND THE REBELS, 1872, INSCRIBED TO AMERICAN AUTHOR AND THEOLOGIAN INCREASE TARBOX

STEARNS, Charles. The Black Man of the South, and the Rebels; or, The Characteristics of the Former, and the Recent Outrages of the Latter. New York and Boston: American News and N.E. News, 1872. Octavo, original burgundy cloth. Housed in a custom clamshell box. $1100.

First edition, presentation copy, of this narrative about African American society in the South during Reconstruction, inscribed to a prominent New England author and theologian: "Increase N. Tarbox. West Newton. 1875. Presented by the Author."

"In The Black Man of the South and the Rebels, published in 1872, Stearns denounced [presidential candidate Horace] Greeley's philosophy of 'root hog or die' [i.e. letting Southern Blacks fend for themselves], arguing that even a hog could not root without a snout. In his view, provisions for land and education, far beyond anything that was then available to blacks, were absolutely essential. Arguing that 'the black man possesses all the natural powers that we possess,' he pointed out that the blacks had not yet recovered from the degrading effects of slavery and were unable, even under Radical Reconstruction, to compete successfully or maintain their rights in the face of a bitterly hostile Southern white population" (Frederickson, et al., 194). This work also contains some of the earliest accounts of the Ku Klux Klan. Blockson 2367. Howes S907. This presentation copy is inscribed to Increase N. Tarbox, a member of the prominent New England Tarbox family. Tarbox had a varied career during which he served as pastor of the Framingham, Massachusetts Congregational Church, editor of The Congregationalist, and secretary of the American Education Society. Tarbox wrote extensively on history, religion and philosophy, generally from his own perspective as a conservative theologian. Owner signature.

Scattered staining to first few leaves, inner hinges expertly reinforced, only slight soiling and light wear to cloth. A near-fine copy.