Clarkson (Thomas). The history of the ... abolition of the African slave-trade, 2 vols., 1808

Clarkson (Thomas). The History of the Rise, Progress, and Accomplishment of the Abolition of the African slave-trade, by the British Parliament, 2 volumes, London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, 1808, three engraved plates (including 2 folding, slave ship plate with short closed tear to right-hand), occasional scattered spotting and browning (mostly to plates), marbled endpapers with later cloth hinges, armorial bookplate of the Earl of Selborne and bookcase label to upper pastedowns of each, contemporary half calf, rebacked preserving original morocco title and volume number labels, 8vo QTY: (2) NOTE: Goldsmiths' 19725; Kress B.5319; Sabin 13486. Thomas Clarkson (1760-46) devoted most of his life to fighting for the abolition of slavery and toured the country assembling evidence, interviewing 20,000 sailors and acquiring equipment used on the slave ships. He persuaded Wilberforce (1759-1833) to take up the cause in Parliament and in 1807 the Slave Trade Act was passed, banning the transportation of slaves in British ships. Eventually, the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 abolished slavery in most parts of the British Empire, which passed three days before Wilberforce died.