986

A BOOK OWNED BYJAMES ALFORD - ESCAPED SLAVE WHO BECAME A QUAKER

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:150.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 400.00 USD
A BOOK OWNED BYJAMES ALFORD - ESCAPED SLAVE WHO BECAME A QUAKER
JAMES ALFORD (c. 1769 - 1842) was born enslaved in Elizabethtown, N.J. who early in life had a spiritual awakening at age eighteen that compelled him to seek his freedom. Soon afterwards he began attending Quaker meetings where he learned to read and write. With the help of the Quakers, he attempted to purchase his freedom, but his master refused. At age twenty-five he had another spiritual awakening, this time God told him (by his own account) that "time had arrived for me to leave." He obeyed and walked to Philadelphia where he lived under the protection of the Quakers. After several years, he saved $250 to obtain his freedom. His master agreed and he received manumission papers.

Offered here is a volume owned by Alford, which bears four of his ownership signatures appearing on the blank flyleaves of his copy of William Penn's, No Cross, No Crown: A Discourse Shewing the Nature and Discipline of the Holy Cross of Christ; and that The Denial of Self, and daily bearing of Christ's Cross, is the alone Way to the Rest and Kingdom of God... (Philadelphia: Printed by Benjamin & Jacob Johnson, 1797) 358pp. 8vo. bound in original leather boards and titled spine, front board detached, some moderate toning to pages, else very good. Each of Alford's ownership inscriptions reads similarly: "James Alfords Book Bought the 16 of the 3 Month 1805" This may well have been Alfrod's first purchase of a book considering that he took the time to sign it so many times.

Alford remained a free man, residing in Philadelphia where in his later years he ran the Philadelphia Shelter for Colored Orphans. That facility was attacked by a mob in 1838, but Alford was able to escape without injury.

Estimate: $300 - 400.

Download Our Current PDF Auction Catalog

Part I: Lots 1-979 - September 27th, 2012

Part II: Lots 980-1845 - September 28th, 2012