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Follow-up to the historic Somersett slave case... Bougainville in Tahiti...



Item # 642817

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THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, July, 1772  The most significant articles in this issue would be two follow-up commentaries concerning the landmark James Somersett slave case.
Somerset was a slave purchased in Virginia then taken to England, escaped & eventually recaptured. This case concerned whether he was free or remained a slave and ultimately determined that slavery was unsupported in England.
The articles are titled: "Considerations on a Late Determination in the Court of King's Bench on the Negro Cause" which is a direct reference to the Somersett case which was just decided on June 22 and takes over a full page, and: "An Argument Against Property in Slaves" which relates to the Somersett case as well. Further on is: "A Plan for the Abolition of Slavery in the West Indies".
Also within this issue is "Bougainville's Delineation of the Periagua's of Taiti [Tahiti], and the Adjacent Islands". Bougainville was a French explorer who circumnavigated the world, and who explored Tahiti.
All 3 plates called for are present.
Complete in 48 pages, full title/contents page featuring an engraving of St. John's Gate, 5 1/2 by 8 3/4 inches with wide, untrimmed margins, very nice condition.

A very nice issue from just before the Revolutionary War with various news of the day, political reports, literary items, and other unusual tidbits. This was the first periodical to use the word "magazine" in its title, having begun in 1731 and lasting until 1907.

Category: The 1600's and 1700's