1772 PHILLIS WHEATLEY. First Edition [3rd Print] of "On Recollection" and Her First Published Poem.

Phillis Wheatley. The Annual Register, or a View of the History, Politics, and Literature For the Year 1772. London. J. Dodsley. 1780. First Edition, Third Printing. 26 + 246pp.

The Annual Register was an anthology of new and extant literary works from the year 1772, most significantly including in this year, an original, previously unpublished poem by Phillis Wheatley entitled On Recollection. The poem, published here when Wheatley was but 18 years of age, would be included in her first book of poetry the succeeding year. On Recollection remains the first significant appearance of one of her poems ever printed, and here in the first edition.

Though a slave in America, she appeared in England first for good reason. Wheatley's owners, who seem to have cared deeply for her, tried to have her work published in the colonies but were refused by ever publishing house. They were, it seemed, unwilling to promote the work of an enslaved woman of color. As a result, Wheatley was sent to London where abolitionism had taken deeper and earlier root.

She wrote a popular elegy on George Whitefield, was correspondent with John Newton, Selina Countess of Huntingdon, etc., and is in many ways the first black abolitionist from America to ever achieve "print." 

The Annual Register was a fitting place for its publication as well. The annual was written and edited by parliamentarian, Edmund Burke who opposed slavery and proposed a bill to ban slave holders from sitting on the Seat of Commons. 

A fifth edition [again, ours is here is a third] is on the market at $4,500.

Original quarter leather with leather and paper boards as issued. Very attractive and sound textually, though the front board is detached. Textually very clean and crisp as shown.