A QUAKER ABOLITIONIST IN TEXAS IN THE 1830S
171. [LUNDY, Benjamin]. The Life, Travels and
Opinions of Benjamin Lundy, Including his Journeys to Texas
and Mexico; with a Sketch of Cotemporary [sic]
events, and a Notice of the Revolution in Hayti.
Compiled under the Direction and on Behalf of His Children
[compiled by T. Earle]. Philadelphia: William D.
Parrish, 1847. [4, blank] [5]-316 pp., lithographed
frontispiece portrait of Lundy, folding lithographed map
with original full color: California, Texas, Mexico, and
Part of the United States Compiled from the Latest and Best
Authorities (21.8 x 26 cm; 8-1/2 x 10-1/8
inches). 12mo, original dark brown blind-stamped cloth.
Some outer wear and spotting to binding, intermittent
foxing and browning to interior. Contemporary ownership
stencil of Jonah H. Lupton on preface leaf.
First
edition. Clark, Old South III:66: "Contains
Lundy’s journals kept on his journeys to Texas,
1833-34 and 1834-35, in search of suitable places for the
colonization of freed slaves." Eberstadt, Texas
162:505: "Diary of his journey through Texas in 1833-35
touching at Brazoria, Austin, and San Antonio. Contains
much on the country and its products, local manners, etc."
Graff 1195. Howes E10. Matthews, pp. 255-6: "The most
traveled of the abolitionists was Lundy, who said he had
walked 5,000 miles and had rode another 20,000. He went to
nineteen states, Haiti, Canada, Texas, and Mexico."
Plains & Rockies Iv:108n. Streeter 1169n: "A
most interesting Texas book because of Lundy’s three
journeys to Texas....Lundy was a keen observer and in his
journeys refers to many of the prominent Texans." The
colorful map (which is not listed by Wheat) shows the
Nueces Strip and the Panhandle uncolored, because those
areas were still in dispute. This book is one of our few
contemporary sources on pioneer Texas printer Samuel
Bangs.
($600-1,200)