Rare early anti-slavery book with remarkable association. Self-published in Philadelphia, 1817, printed by John Bioren.
Signed in several places by Charles H. Leveck, likely the very same Leveck who attended the first Colored Conventions held in Philadelphia and appeared in convention records (either as a delegate from Pennsylvania, or as Clerk or Recording Secretary) for the very first convention in 1830 as well as the first, second and third Annual Conventions of Free People of Color in 1831, 1832 and 1833.
On the first blank flyleaf after the ffep someone has written "Chas. H. Levick, Own History when he went to school." This is almost certainly a misspelling, since Leveck, in what looks like a different hand, has signed his name on the cover and in several places throughout the text with the "Leveck" spelling. Also worth mentioning is a handwritten note, which appears twice in slightly different forms, recording a birth: "Born on Feb 21st 1833 at 10:11 o'clock pm Thursday." Also scattered throughout the text are a child's pencil scribbles and doodles. It seems possible that the book belonged to Leveck as a child, even that it was a part of the intellectual formation (the "Own History") that ultimately led him to become a part of the black abolitionist movement. The notation describing the book as such may have been made by a descendant (coincidentally, the "Levick" misspelling also appears in the minutes of the 1833 convention, though not in the preceding ones). Similarly, the birth record could well have that of one of Leveck's children, though I suppose it is also possible that he had a son by the same name who was the owner of this book. In just an afternoon of internet research I haven't been able to locate any sort of genealogical record. Suffice it to say, all of this is (evidence-based) speculation on my part and the book needs a more expert researcher with access to institutional archives of Philadelphia history and of the Colored Conventions.
Also especially noteworthy is the engraving that serves as a frontispiece, which depicts slaves in the foreground of a view of the ruined Capitol building in 1814, a building which, of course, slaves helped to build. The irony is palpable, and Torrey makes it explicit in the text, commenting in a footnote on p.33 on the partial destruction of the Capitol by the British:
"Would it be superstitious to presume, that the Sovereign Father of all nations, permitted the perpetration of this apparently execrable transaction, as a fiery, though salutary signal of his displeasure at the conduct of his Columbian children, in erecting and idolizing this... temple of freedom, and at the same time oppressing with the yoke of captivity and toilsome bondage, twelve or fifteen hundred thousand of their African brethren... making merchandize of their blood, and dragging their bodies with iron chains, even under its towering walls?"
In poor condition, with fraying to spine leather and chipping to edges of paper boards. 5 of the 6 engravings (by Alex. Lawson from artwork by Alex. Rider) are present, some with markings. As mentioned above there are writings and doodles scattered throughout text, mostly in pencil, and the ink ownership notations described. I note three pages with tears that effectively removed portions of text, as well as a few pages with evidence of having been used to press ferns. One of the engraved plates has a long closed tear partway through the center of the image.
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