Slavery.- Clarkson (Thomas) The History of the Rise, Progress, and Accomplishment of the Abolition of the African Slave-Trade by the British Parliament, 2 vol., first edition, presentation copy from the author " To Wm. Wilberforce Esqr. M.P., an unwearied Fellow-Labour[er] and the parliamentary Leader in the great Cause of the Abolition of the Slave-Trade this work is affectionately present[ed]" inscribed on title of vol.1, 3 engraved plates, 2 folding, inscription very slightly cropped with loss of a couple of letters, a few markings and numberings in ink or pencil to vol.1, some foxing and soiling, a few light stains to text and marginal defects, plates with a little offsetting, one folding plate frayed at edge, the other (plan of slave ship) torn and repaired at edge, modern half calf (in style of previous binding), with Wilberforce's engraved bookplate on preserved front pastedown tipped in at beginning of vol.1, [Goldsmiths' 19725; Kress B.5319; Sabin 13486], 8vo, 1808.

⁂ A superb association copy, between two of the leading lights in the campaign against slavery.

Thomas Clarkson (1760-46) devoted most of his life to fighting for the abolition of slavery and toured the country assembling evidence, interviewing 20,000 sailors and acquiring equipment used on the slave-ships. He persuaded Wilberforce (1759-1833) to take up the cause in Parliament and in 1807 the Slave Trade Act was passed, banning the transportation of slaves in British ships. Eventually the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 abolished slavery in most parts of the British Empire, being passed three days before Wilberforce died.