Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9

Life and Liberty in America by Charles Mackay, 1859

$1,125
£860.12
€990.69
CA$1,576.47
A$1,759.98
CHF 922.20
MX$21,543.89
NOK 11,711.99
SEK 11,042.92
DKK 7,393.60

About the Item

Mackay, Charles. Life and Liberty in America: or, Sketches of a Tour in the United States and Canada, in 1857-8. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1859. Octavo. Illustrated with ten engravings. Rebound in 1/4 blue leather and cloth boards with raised bands, gilt titles, and gilt tooling to the spine and a new archival cloth slipcase to match. Presented is a 1859 printing of Charles Mackay’s Antebellum American travel narrative, Life and Liberty in America. In 1857–1858, Scottish poet and author Charles Mackay toured through the United States, traveling from Boston, to New York, down the Mississippi to New Orleans, the South, the West, and into Canada. During his time, he lectured and hobnobbed with soldiers, politicians, and the writers Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson, William Hickling Prescott, and Oliver Wendell Holmes. Once returned, Mackay wrote and published his observations. His biting wit and opinionated personality shines through in this intriguing work. With the aim of studying “life and liberty” in a slave-owning nation, his observations on slavery were particularly astute. He also explores topics like freedom of religion and offers his impressions of American cities and everyday life. As a document of America just prior to the Civil War, seen through the eyes of an outsider, this is a fascinating and historically important book. A Scottish journalist, Charles Mackay (1814-1889) held an honorary law degree from Glasgow University, as well as a doctorate in literature. A renowned poet and songwriter, he is remembered for his 1841 book Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds. During the American Civil War, he returned as a correspondent for The Times, in this capacity he discovered and disclosed the Fenian conspiracy. He also authored a Dictionary of Lowland Scotch. CONDITION: Good condition overall. Octavo. Rebound in 1/4 blue leather and cloth boards with raised bands, gilt titles, and gilt tooling to the spine. Paper is healthy, with only moderate toning. With ten illustrations. Presented with a new archival blue cloth slipcase to match. Book Dimensions: 7 7/8" H x 5 1/2" W x 1 5/8" D. Slipcase Dimensions: 8 1/4" H x 5 3/4" W x 2" D. Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 8.25 in (20.96 cm)Width: 5.25 in (13.34 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1859
  • Condition:
    Additions or alterations made to the original: Rebound in 1/4 blue leather and cloth boards with raised bands, gilt titles, and gilt tooling to the spine. Binding by Felton Bookbinding, Ltd. in Ontario, Canada in October of 2024. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
  • Seller Location:
    Colorado Springs, CO
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BK10911stDibs: LU909742314232

More From This Seller

View All
The History of the Discovery and Settlement of America by W. Robertson, 1835
By William Robertson
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Robertson, William, Frost, John. The History of the Discovery and Settlement of America, With an Account of His Life and Writings, To which are added Questions for the Examination of...
Category

Antique 1830s American Early Victorian Books

Materials

Leather, Fabric, Paper

The Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence by N. Dwight, 1860
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Dwight, Nathaniel. The Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. New York: A. S. Barnes & Burr, 1860. Later printing. Octavo. Rebound in ¼ leather and cloth boards, wi...
Category

Antique 1860s American Federal Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

The Life of Israel Putnam by William Cutter, 1859
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Cutter, William. The Life of Israel Putnam, Major-General in the Army of the American Revolution, Compiled from the Best Authorities. New York: Derby & Jackson, 1859. Later printing....
Category

Antique 1850s Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

An Interesting Account of the Voyages and Travels of Captains Lewis and Clarke
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Fisher, William. An Interesting Account of the Voyages and Travels of Captains Lewis and Clarke, in the Years 1804-5, & 6... Baltimore: P. Mauro, 1813. 12mo. Illustrated. Rebound in...
Category

Antique 1810s American Federal Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

Journals of the First and Second Continental Congress, by R. Aitken, Vol I, 1776
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Journals of Congress. Containing the Proceedings From Sept. 5. 1774. to Jan. 1. 1776. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by R. Aitken, 1777. Volume I. First Edition. 8vo. Rebound in ¼ br...
Category

Antique 1770s American American Colonial Books

Materials

Leather, Fabric, Paper

History of the Discovery of America by Henry Trumbull, 1832
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Trumbull, Henry. History of the Discovery of America: Of the Landing of our Forefathers at Plymouth, and of Their Most Remarkable Engagements with the Indians in New-England, From Th...
Category

Antique 1830s American Early Victorian Books

Materials

Leather, Fabric, Paper

You May Also Like

Antique Book, The Life of Charles Dickens, Biography, English, Victorian, C.1880
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique copy of The Life of Charles Dickens by John Forster. An English language biographical account of the Victorian author, dating to the late 19th century, published c...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Victorian Books

Materials

Paper

DICKENS, Charles, Dombey and Son, '1848, First Edition Bound from the Parts'
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
Author: DICKENS, Charles Title: Dombey and Son. Publisher: London: Bradbury & Evans, 1848. Description: first edition bound from the parts. 1 vol., 8-5/8" x 6", illustrated ...
Category

Antique 1840s British Books

Materials

Leather

Poems of Samuel Taylor COLERIDGE, Third Edition, 1803
Located in Middletown, NY
London: T. N. Longman and O. Rees, 1803. Third Edition. 12mo, 6 1/4 x 4 inches (160 x 114 mm); pp. xii + 202. Half-bound in tan calf with raised bands and gilt decorations, black l...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Books

Materials

Gold Leaf

Sentimental Tommy, The Story of His Boyhood – J. M. Barrie, creator of PETER PAN
Located in Middletown, NY
London: Cassell and Co., 1896. First Edition. Small 8vo., 7 3/8 x 5 inches (188 x 127 mm), pp. viii + 452 + 4 of publisher's advertising. Red calf binding by Root & Son (stamp on f...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Books

Materials

Gold Leaf

Antique Book, Bones and I, Whyte-Melville, English, Novel, Victorian, Circa 1880
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique book, Bones & I by George Whyte-Melville. An English language, bound novel, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1880. First published in 1868, Bones & I is a humorous novel written about a man - Jack Raggles - who gains possession of a human skeleton. Written by George Whyte-Melville (1821 - 1878), the book is a comedic and macabre blend of satire and class division. Nicely presented example of this unusual title Displays a desirable aged patina, lightly time-worn but intact Bound with cloth over board in navy blue with gold...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Books

Materials

Paper

Antique Book, Days of King Arthur, Mythology, English, Fiction, Late Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique mythology book, Days of King Arthur by Charles Henry Hanson. An English language, hard bound fictional work with illustrations by Gus...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Books

Materials

Paper