Very desirable on the market, the present is a Civil War era production designed to prepare the young for the coming full emancipation of slaves via the Emancipation Proclamation and the imminent end of the Civil War.
It takes the form of the ubiquitous New-England Primer, having each page with a superb woodcut with reference to slavery or the on-going Civil War, and each beginning with the subsequent letter of the alphabet, i.e. a, b, c. etc.
And the content is insightful. Even on the first page, "a," there is a footnote referencing the "all men created equal" phrasing in the Declaration of Independence, and defending its application to the Negro, Arab, or Indian" alike.
Additionally, the present example is signed on the publication sheet by Abigail Smith, apparently the abolitionist of the same name [1797-1878].
Abigail Smith and her sister Julia were influential early abolitionists in Glastonbury, Connecticut. They were members of the Hartford Anti-Slavery Society, opened their large property to hosting outdoor speeches by William Lloyd-Garrison, etc., After the end of the Civil War, the sisters gave their formidable energies to the cause of Women's Suffrage.
No examples on the market at time of cataloguing.
Gray, Iron [Abel C. Thomas]. The Gospel of Slavery: A Primer of Freedom. New York. T. W. Strong. 1864.
A fair, well-used example. Front cover worn and chipped as shown. Blank ffep removed at some point. Begins with title, textually complete. Rear wrap similarly situated to front with corner lacking as shown. Stains throughout.
