![[SLAVERY]. -- WILBERFORCE, William (1759-1833). A Letter on the Abolition of the Slave Trade; Addressed to the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of Yorkshire. London: Printed by Luke Hansard & Sons for T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1807.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2012/NYR/2012_NYR_02622_0122_000(slavery_--_wilberforce_william_a_letter_on_the_abolition_of_the_slave065712).jpg?w=1)
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[SLAVERY]. -- WILBERFORCE, William (1759-1833). A Letter on the Abolition of the Slave Trade; Addressed to the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of Yorkshire. London: Printed by Luke Hansard & Sons for T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1807.
8o (203 x 126 mm). (Lacking half-title.) Contemporary tree calf, red morocco lettering piece (some rubbing at extremities).
FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed on the title-page in an unknown hand: "From the Author." A politician, philanthropist and devoted Christian, Wilberforce spent many years fighting in Parliament for the abolition of the slave trade. A Letter..., originally intended to only be a pamphlet, was a description of the evidence and arguments against the slave trade accumulated by Wilberforce over the course of two decades. Its publication on 31 January 1807 served as the culmination of the final struggle for stopping the trafficking of slaves along with the introduction of the Abolition Bill in the House of Lords. The bill passed the upper house by a large majority and was read in the Commons on 23 February. It passed by 283 votes to 16 and received the royal assent on 25 March. Wilberforce continued to devote the rest of his life to the anti-slavery movement and died in 1833, just three days after Parliament voted to abolish slavery. PMM 232.
8o (203 x 126 mm). (Lacking half-title.) Contemporary tree calf, red morocco lettering piece (some rubbing at extremities).
FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed on the title-page in an unknown hand: "From the Author." A politician, philanthropist and devoted Christian, Wilberforce spent many years fighting in Parliament for the abolition of the slave trade. A Letter..., originally intended to only be a pamphlet, was a description of the evidence and arguments against the slave trade accumulated by Wilberforce over the course of two decades. Its publication on 31 January 1807 served as the culmination of the final struggle for stopping the trafficking of slaves along with the introduction of the Abolition Bill in the House of Lords. The bill passed the upper house by a large majority and was read in the Commons on 23 February. It passed by 283 votes to 16 and received the royal assent on 25 March. Wilberforce continued to devote the rest of his life to the anti-slavery movement and died in 1833, just three days after Parliament voted to abolish slavery. PMM 232.