Added to your basket:
Pictures of Cuba.

Checkout now

First British edition, revised and retitled, issued in the ‘Traveller’s Library’ series. Pictures of Cuba was first published under the title Gan-Eden: or, Pictures of Cuba (Boston: 1854), and Hurlbert (1827-1895) states in his preface that, ‘In the short time that has elapsed since this book was first published in America, the aspect of the relations between my own country and Spain has undergone a change, which is, I fear, rather apparent than real’, and therefore he has ‘subjected this little book to many modifications’ (p. vii), presumably referring to the Ostend Manifesto (1854), which proposed the annexation of Cuba, through its purchase by the United States from Spain.

The work discusses the history, culture, topography, etc. of Cuba and also Cuban literature, the Cuban people, and chapter XIII (pp. 98-108) is dedicated to the question of slavery in Cuba, opening with the words: ‘Man is at once the crown and the curse of the earth’. The final chapter considers the difficulties of annexing Cuba (which the author strongly opposes), and also explains that it would encourage slavery: ‘To pursue the annexation of Cuba in the interests of slavery, is to pursue the doom of the Republic. I say nothing of the possibilities of disastrous foreign war which lurk in that pursuit; for I am sure that America can take no serious detriment at any but American hands. We have nothing to fear from the world. But have we nothing to fear from ourselves? Slavery is an institution so essentially false and mean in principle, so thoroughly barbaric in spirit, that no man can labour in its service without barbarizing his temper and his intellect. If it does not find men unscrupulous, it makes them so’ (p. 129).

This revised edition is scarce and COPAC only records three copies in UK libraries (National Library of Scotland, Glasgow, and Manchester).

Sabin 34004; Smith, American Travellers Abroad, H164.

You may also be interested in...

JACOMB, Charles Ernest.

And a new earth. A romance.

First edition. A post-apocalyptic fantasy novel relating the history of a utopian island that survived a ‘second flood’ in 1958, which destroyed the world’s civilization and reduced the human population to just 10,000. The island was re-discovered by the New World Fleet in 2832, 872 years after the near-extinction of the human race, and was found to have survived the catastrophe relatively untouched. Following an introduction by the commander of the New World Fleet that re-discovered the island, the novel follows the story of George Smith and his foundation and leadership of the utopia later dubbed ‘Easter Island’.

Read more

CALIFORNIA PIONEERS SPURR, George Graham.

The Land of Gold. A Tale of ’49. Illustrative of early pioneer life in California, and founded upon fact. Dedicated to California pioneers ... With seven illustrations.

First edition. ‘This narrative ... is contributed to the file of literature for the purpose of keeping green the memory of the achievements of the early pioneers in California, and to show future generations what it cost to add what was once a wild unbroken solitude to civilisation and fame’ (Preface). The illustrations include ‘Capturing the Grizzly Bear’. Spurr would later publish A Fight with a Grizzly Bear: A Story of thrilling Interest (1886).

Read more