Twelve Years a Slave is an 1853 memoir and slave narrative by American Solomon Northup as told to and edited by David Wilson.

Northup, a black man who was born free in New York state, details his being tricked to go to Washington, D.C., where he was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Deep South. He was in bondage for 12 years in Louisiana before he was able to secretly get information to friends and family in New York, who in turn secured his release with the aid of the state. Northup's account provides extensive details on the slave markets in Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, and describes at length cotton and sugar cultivation and slave treatment on major plantations in Louisiana. [wikipedia]

Octavo, 336 pages. In Good condition. Bound in three-quarter red leather and pebbled dark green cloth boards, with gilt-paneled spine with no titling. Boards show light rubbing to binding with light plus cracking to hinges, and reinforcement to both front and rear gutters. Text block shows light to moderate foxing and occasional light finger wear and smudges to interior, occasional light fraying to fore-edges, damage to p. 336 (appears to have been previously pasted to something), and gift inscription to second free end paper. True first printing, with no mention of “Thousand” at top of title page. Contains all seven wood engravings, including frontispiece portrait, but lacking four-page catalogue. LB Consignment. Shelved in Case 1.