A Journey in the Seaboard Slave States, with Remarks on their Economy

New York: Dix & Edwards, 1856. Hard Cover. Good+ binding. 12mo . xvi, 724, iv (adverts) pp., illus. First edition. As issued, in brown embossed cloth; in-text woodcuts throughout. Ex-library copy with bookplate (marked withdrawn) on the verso of the first blank; evidence of a slip on the rear free endpaper; and the shelf-back numbering which has been abraded away, but still faintly visible; otherwise, only light rubbing to the binding; lightly and evenly toned throughout. A reasonably nice copy all things considered.

This is the first of Olmsted's accounts of his southern travels and in it he offers "a great variety of details pertaining to the agricultural methods, the inefficiency of slave labor, the uncomfortable homes of the planters, soil exhaustion, the use of guano, rice culture, Dismal Swamp and other physical features, Creoles, and wildlife." He argues for free labor over slavery, not only on moral grounds, but based on the output of labor--quality of work that comes when initiative and self-respect are kept intact by free-labor, qualities destroyed by the institution of slavery. Clark, Travels in the Old South III, 482. This work went into many editions, but this first edition is fairly uncommon. This copy from the the library of famed horticulturalist Henry Nehrling with his name on the front free endpaper. Additionally 19th century owner name on the front pastedown. Howes O-78.