Black Americana and Abolition – 48 – Bauman Rare Books - July 2022 First Publication Of Thomas W. Higginson’s Rare Historical Account Of Nat Turner’s Insurrection, 1861 81. (TURNER, Nat) HIGGINSON, Thomas Wentworth. Nat Turner’s Insurrection. IN: The Atlantic Monthly. Boston, August, 1861. Octavo, original printed paper wrappers; pp, 173-87. $4250. First appearance of abolitionist Higginson’s extensively researched work on Nat Turner’s 1831 insurrection, the first major work on Turner after the virtually unobtainable Confessions, rare in original wrappers. In an 1857 speech, Douglass declared, “Virginia was never nearer emancipation than when General Turner kindled the fires of resurrection at Southampton.” On August 22, 1831, “60 to 80 slaves and free Blacks rose up to join Nat Turner. For two days they ravaged Southampton, killing some 55 adults and children of slave-holding classes… for more than two months Nat avoided capture, but eventually he surrendered” (Robinson, 38). The impending Civil War had prompted Higginson to consider what danger another Nat Turner “posed to the Confederacy and the doctrine of white supremacy.” Higginson published Nat Turner’s Insurrection in the August 1861 issue of The Atlantic. Front wrapper with faint owner signature, number “1861” and “August” in unidentified hand; “Contents” page with tiny bit of marginalia, annotation. Text fresh with lightest scattered foxing, fragile original wrappers with minimal soiling, early reinforcement to spine head not affecting printing. An exceptional near-fine copy.
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