This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/21/2022
[AMERICANA]. RILEY, James. An Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce… Hartford: the author, 1817. 8vo. 9 engravings including portrait frontispiece (browning or spotting throughout, small stain to frontispiece), lacks folding map. Contemporary calf with Etruscan borders gilt (covers detached, spine eroded, contents browned, some sprung). FIRST EDITION, INSCRIBED BY RILEY ON TITLE–PAGE TO A FRIEND. A rare account of Riley’s misfortunes of being shipwrecked and enslaved by Arabs in Morocco in 1815. It became one of the most popular books of the 19th century and was one of Abraham Lincoln’s half dozen favorite books. Sabin 71397.