Research Catalog

Title

Twelve years a slave. : Narrative of Solomon Northup, a citizen of New-York, kidnapped in Washington City in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near the Red River in Louisiana.

Author

Northup, Solomon, 1808-1863?

Publication

Auburn : Derby and Miller ; Buffalo : Derby, Orton and Mulligan ; London : Sampson Low, Son & Co., 1853.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Wilson, D. (David), 1818-1870.
• Coffin, Frederick M.
• Orr, Nathaniel
• Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 1811-1896.
• Arthur A. Schomburg Negro Collection, bookplate
• New York State Library, former owner

Description

336 pages, 7 unnumbered leaves of plates : illustrations; 20 cm

Summary

Describes the life in slavery of Solomon Northup from Saratoga, N.Y., born a free Black man.

Donor/Sponsor

• Home to Harlem Project funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (2021-2024).
• Home to Harlem Project funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Alternative Title

Narrative of Solomon Northup

Subject

• Northup, Solomon, 1808-1863?
• 1800-1899
• Enslaved persons > United States > Biography
• African Americans > Biography
• Plantation life > Louisiana > History > 19th century
• Slavery > Louisiana > History > 19th century
• African Americans
• Plantation life
• Slavery
• Enslaved persons
• Louisiana
• United States

Genre/Form

• autobiographies (literary works)
• Biographies.
• History.
• Autobiographies.
• Inscriptions (Provenance)
• Bookplates (Provenance)

Note

• Editor's preface signed, in print: David Wilson, Whitehall, N.Y., May, 1853.
• Dedicated "To Harriet Beecher Stowe: whose name, throughout the world, is identified with the Great Reform: this narrative, affording another key to Uncle Tom's Cabin, is respectfully dedicated."
• "Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, by Derby and Miller, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Northern District of New-York. Entered in London at Stationers' Hall"--Title page verso.
• Engraved illustrations by Nathaniel Orr and Frederick Coffin.
• Includes two leaves of publisher's advertisements inserted between the front pastedown and the front free endpaper.

Indexed In (note)

• New York Public Library. Dictionary catalog of the Schomburg Collection of Negro Literature & History. Boston: G. K. Hall.

Additional Formats (note)

• Also available on microfilm, Schomburg Center's researchers restricted to the microform copy in: Sc Micro R-6242 or to the electronic resource.

Call Number

Sc Rare 326.92-N (Northup, S. Twelve years a slave)

OCLC

52150698

Author

Northup, Solomon, 1808-1863?

Title

Twelve years a slave. : Narrative of Solomon Northup, a citizen of New-York, kidnapped in Washington City in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near the Red River in Louisiana.

Publisher

Auburn : Derby and Miller ; Buffalo : Derby, Orton and Mulligan ; London : Sampson Low, Son & Co., 1853.

Edition

8th thousand.

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Indexed In:

New York Public Library. Dictionary catalog of the Schomburg Collection of Negro Literature & History. Boston: G. K. Hall., v. 6, page 5644, column 2, row 4

Additional Formats

Also available on microfilm, Schomburg Center's researchers restricted to the microform copy in: Sc Micro R-6242 or to the electronic resource.

Local Note

The Schomburg Center Manuscripts, Archives & Rare Book Division has two copies of this book. Copy 1 (accession no. B571185) is part of the original collection purchased from Arthur A. Schomburg in 1926. The book bears an NYPL's bookplate of Arthur A. Schomburg Negro Collection, NYPL's perforated stamp, "Schomburg Collection" ink stamp, and early processing markings of the original Schomburg Collection. This copy includes a "Feb. 3, 1942" rebounding date stamped, marble edge & endpapers. It's imperfect: it lacks the preliminary two pages of publisher's advertisements inserted between the front pastedown and the front free endpaper. Library bound in red cloth over boards and a gilt spine.

Copy 2 (accession no. G41549) is a pre-1926 gift added or transferred to the Schomburg collection during Catherine A. Latimer's tenure as collection librarian. The book bears NYPL's bookplate of Reference Collection of Negro Literature, as well as various stamps like: "Division of Negro Literature and History;" Property of the City of New York;" and "The New York Public Library: Circulation Department, 135 Street Branch, 103 West 135th St." which indicate, this item was originally part of of the 135 Street Branch's Circulation Department. It also includes NYPL's perforated stamp and early processing marking of the original collection. It also includes perforated & ink stamp of the former owner: "N.Y. State Library" The book is bound in purple cloth over boards, library binding, and a gilt spine.

Copy in Sc Rare 326.92-N (copy 1) has impression statement at head of title: "Eighth Thousand." NN

Schomburg Center researchers are restricted to the microform copy in: Sc Micro R-6242 or to the electronic resource.

Source

Copy 2 in Sc Rare 326.92-N Gift; G41549. NN

Connect to:

NYPL Digital Collections

Request Access to Special Collections Material

Chronological Term

1800-1899

Local Subject

Black author.

Place of Publication

United States New York (State) Auburn.

Added Author

Wilson, D. (David), 1818-1870.

Coffin, Frederick M.

Orr, Nathaniel.

Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 1811-1896. Uncle Tom's cabin.

Arthur A. Schomburg Negro Collection, bookplate.

New York State Library, former owner.

Latimer, Catherine, 1896-1948 collection librarian.

Schomburg, Arthur Alfonso, 1874-1938, former owner.

Research Call Number

Sc Rare 326.92-N (Northup, S. Twelve years a slave)

AN (Northup) (Northup, S. Twelve years a slave)