Books and Manuscripts

Boston: Published for the Author, 1875. Two parts in one volume. First revised edition of Narrative of Sojourner Truth, and first edition of "Book of Life." 8vo. 320 pp. With Truth's printed Battle Creek, Michigan calling card mounted to front paste-down, inscribed to American railroad executive and industrialist, Thomas A. Scott: "Thomas Scott, Esq/with grateful regards of" (possibly in the hand of Truth's secretary, tour manager, and editor of this volume, Frances W. Titus, ca. 1878-79) before Truth's printed name. Illustrated with frontispiece portrait of Truth, with original tissue guard. Original brown cloth with portrait of Sojourner Truth, stamped in blind and in gilt, spine lettered in gilt, head of spine chipped, spine and boards unevenly faded, slight bubbling to rear board cloth; all edges trimmed; offsetting from card onto front free endpaper. Blockson 3435

The first part of this volume, Narrative of Sojourner Truth, is a revised and expanded version of the 1850 edition, first edited by Olive Gilbert, and edited here by Truth's secretary and confidant, Frances W. Titus. The second part, "Book of Life.", was compiled by Titus from Sojourner Truth's scrapbooks.

While the inscription on Truth's calling card mounted in this volume is undated, it is known that she and Titus travelled together on a six-month speaking tour in New York, and along the East Coast, in 1878-79. As Titus acted as Truth's defacto tour manager and secretary at this time, and due to Truth's illiteracy, it is possible that this card was inscribed by Titus for Scott during one of Truth's stops.

Thomas A. Scott (1832-81) was an American businessman, industrialist, and the fourth president of the Pennsylvania Railroad (1874-80). During the Civil War he was appointed by Abraham Lincoln to serve as Assistant Secretary of War, where he oversaw the construction of railroads and the improvement of transportation infrastructure crucial to the war effort.

A scarce and beautiful copy.