1856 LEBANESE CHRISTIAN. Memoir of Antonio Bishallany, The First Arab-American Immigrant.

Antonio Bishallany [1827-1856] was the first known person to emigrate from the Middle  and obtain citizenship in the United States. Born in Salima, Lebanon, he arrived in Boston Harbor in 1854, and died in 1856 in the United States of tuberculosis. He is considered the first Arab American and the father of the many Lebanese-Syrian immigrants who began arriving in New York and Boston during the 1880's. 

Bishallany was, as were most of the late 19th century Middle Eastern immigrants, a Christian who had been converted under the extensive missionary efforts of British and American workers beginning in the early 19th century. 

A fascinating memoir and quite scarce on the market. It covers his conversion in Beirut, the persecution which followed, his deliverance from persecutors, his arrival in the United States, his study at Amenia Seminary, and selections of his diary, devotions, and devotional thoughts, etc., 

He passed away on his 29th birthday. An important memoir and quite scarce in the trade.

A Good + copy in original publishers cloth. Somewhat dulled and boards bumped at extremities. Minor abrasions through the cloth at extremities. as well.  Very solid with some light foxing, largely concentrated at the first few leaves and the last few. Lightly handled. A period signature of Robert Summerville on the ffep and minor remains of a removed label on pastedown. Rear board with a .5 x 1 inch ink stain.