Uncle Tom's Cabin (Extra Illustrated)

London: John Cassell, 1852. First British Edition with George Cruikshank illustrations in book form. 8vo. [i-v] vi-xxiii [xxiv] [1] 2-391 [392] pp. 29 black & white wood engravings (including frontispiece and title page with black & white wood engraving captioned "Eva and Topsy") by George Cruikshank. Also includes an extra set of 12 black & white lithograph plates (artist unknown). Bound by Bickers & Sons, who, according to an ad they placed in "The Educational Times", dated July 2, 1900, had been in business for over fifty years. Full navy leather with gilt ruling on front and rear boards; 5 raised bands with gilt lettering & ruling to spine; TEG; gilt ruled turn-ins; grey endpapers; original ribbon marker. A near fine copy of an uncommon copy; no other copies located with the extra set of illustations. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) was a hugely successful work of anti-slavery literature, fueling the abolitionist cause and contributing to the beginnings of the American Civil War; the book spawned much outrage in the South, as the institution of slavery and the treatment of slaves is presented in a negative light, and led to the publication of many "anti-Tom" novels (also called plantation novels). Although the novel is often now associated with negative influences such as the stereotypical presentations of African-Americans and the racist minstrel shows of the nineteenth century, Stowe's book continues to be a strong influence on writers and civil rights movements, with an enduring message still relevant today. This volume is the first British edition, published in 1852, and features wood engravings by renowned caricaturist George Cruikshank (1792-1878); he created numerous political caricatures satarising the royal family and politicians, and he illustrated many books, particularly for Charles Dickens. The text with Cruikshank's illustrations was originally published in thirteen parts by John Cassell, and this volume is the first edition in book form. Also included is an extra set of illustrations, taken from another edition of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and bound into the book; these illustrations also have catpions matching the characters and events in the book and are placed with the appropriate section of the text. (BAL19343; Printing and the Mind of Man: 332; Sabin: 92457; Wright: 2401).