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BICKELL, Richard.
The West Indies as they are; or A Real Picture of Slavery:
but more particularly as it exists in the Island of Jamaica. In three parts. With notes.
Publisher: London: for J. Hatchard and Son; and Lupton Relfe, 1825
Stock code: 36674
Price: £1,250 Currency Conversion
First edition of this eyewitness account of the conditions in Jamaica by an Anglican cleric, a key source for the history of this period. By no means a fanatical abolitionist, Bickell's testimony is the more valuable for that. He attributed the sufferings of the slaves to the dullness and apathy produced by continuity, if not intensity, of toil ("This constant work, work, work is a principal cause of one of the greatest hardships in West Indian slavery—I mean the constant use of the whip; for, seeing that work is their only portion, they are inclined to be indolent") and he noticed that, with a very natural perversity, slaves "take care not to put forth all their strength."
Octavo. Original brown paper wrappers, printed paper spine-label. Nancy Cunard's copy, with the title written on the front cover in her hand. Covers detached, wrappers with tapemarks from old amateur repair, the whole protected in an archival paper chemise and folding cloth case.
