Poems On The Abolition Of The Slave Trade Montgomery, James. Grahame, James. Benger, E

[16], ii, 141pp, [1]. With an additional engraved allegorical title page and 12 engraved plates. Contemporary gilt-tooled red straight-grain morocco, marbled paper boards. Heavily rubbed. Later ticket of booksellers of Livraria Camōes, Lisbon, Portugal to FEP, very occasional light spotting. The first edition of an anthology of three long poems published to commemorate the 1807 abolition of the slave trade within the British Empire, comprising James Montgomery's (1771-1854) 'The West Indies', James Grahame's (1765-1811) 'Africa Delivered', and Elizabeth Benger's (1777-1827) 'A Poem Occasioned by the Abolition of the Slave Trade'. Commissioned by publisher Robert Bowyer, and dedicated to the Society for Bettering the Condition of the Natives of Africa, the volume revels in 'the dignity of the British Empire' and her enlightened triumph in instigating 'that great legislative event' for the 'universal interest of mankind'. The compilation opens by venerating preeminent British abolitionists, Sharpe, Clarkson, and Wilberforce, each accompanied by a handsome engraved portrait by celebrated artist Robert Smirke (1753-1845). The Monthly Review lavished praise on the book: 'We welcomed Mr. Bowyer's elegant publication on the Abolition of this traffic; and we congratulate the poets, the artist, and the editor, who have contributed to celebrate a transaction so glorious in itself, so characteristic of the exaltation of moral feeling, and so pregnant with blessings to the whole African race'. Jackson p.332. Size: Large quarto