Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe — 1st Cruikshank Edition

£325.00

Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe — 1st Cruikshank Edition

Name: Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe — 1st Cruikshank Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4257
Price: 325.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, John Cassell, 1852

Formatting: 8vo, pp. xxiv, 391, [1].

Condition Report: Good. A handsome yet suitably shelf-worn copy bound in what appears to be contemporary half-calf with marbled boards. The binding remains relatively tight, though the front joint exhibits noticeable cracking and rubbing at the head and tail. The extremities, particularly the board corners and spine ends, show moderate shelf-wear. The spine retains its dark morocco title label and raised bands, albeit with some fading and typical oxidation to the ruled tooling. Internally, the pages are relatively bright given their age, with occasional light foxing and minor toning expected of nineteenth-century paper stock, but free from major tears. The original text block edges show characteristic darkening, retaining their unpolished antiquarian charm.

Catalogue Note: This early UK issue stands as a remarkably significant edition of Stowe's monumental work, celebrated for being the first to feature the masterful illustrations of George Cruikshank. Released in the same year as the American first edition, it brilliantly captures the emotional weight of Stowe's narrative. Cruikshank’s twenty-seven wood engravings, along with the frontispiece portrait of the author, significantly enhanced the book's profound impact on the British public.

Bound in an early, contemporary half-calf over marbled boards, this volume offers a classic nineteenth-century presentation. While free from significant institutional provenance or presentation inscriptions, it survives as a genuine testament to the period's circulating literature. Complete copies featuring these specific illustrations in early bindings are increasingly scarce on the open market, making this an essential acquisition for collectors of crucial abolitionist literature and nineteenth-century wood engraving.

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom's Cabin is one of the most influential novels in American history, widely recognized for galvanizing anti-slavery sentiment across the globe. Through the harrowing and profoundly humanized stories of enslaved individuals, Stowe exposed the brutal realities of the transatlantic slave trade with unflinching moral clarity. This powerful narrative not only fueled the abolitionist movement but fundamentally reshaped the literary and political landscape of the nineteenth century.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Harriet Beecher Stowe

Book Publisher: John Cassell

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Historical Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 391

Book Publication Year: 1852

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Half-Calf)

Illustrator: George Cruikshank

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.