Up for sale is a rare, self-published 1868 first edition of *The Negro at Home: An Inquiry after His Capacity for Self-Government and the Government of Whites* by Lindley Spring.

Published in New York immediately following the American Civil War during the crucial election year of 1868, this controversial work is a prominent, scarce example of Reconstruction-era scientific racism and pro-segregation propaganda. It was heavily utilized by contemporary conservative political figures to argue against African American suffrage and civil rights.

**HISTORICAL PROVENANCE & INSCRIPTIONS:**

This specific copy features highly significant regional provenance connecting it to the political elite of Wilmington, North Carolina, during Reconstruction. The front flyleaf includes multiple period ink and pencil inscriptions:

• "Mr. B. G. Worth" — Barzillai Gardner Worth (1822–1910), a powerful Wilmington shipping merchant and the brother of Jonathan Worth, the Governor of North Carolina (1865–1868).

• "with respects of A.G.F." — The original gift presentation to B.G. Worth.

• "Mrs. C. B. French" — Noted Wilmington merchant/military family library mark.

• "From Larry Simpson" — Subsequent regional family library notation.

**CONDITION DETAILS:**

• Binding: Original hardcover cloth boards (shows wear consistent with age, spine/corner bumping).

• Pages: Complete text block. Expected age-toning and moderate foxing/spotting throughout the flyleaves and title pages as shown in photos. No major structural splits; binding remains stable.

• Please review all high-resolution photos carefully to assess overall cosmetic condition.

A fascinating, highly localized artifact of Southern political history and the ideological battles of the post-Civil War era. Perfect for university archives or serious collectors of African Americana and North Carolina history.