WHEATLEY, PHILLIS

Poems on Various Subjects. Small 8vo, later 1/2 calf; title-page backed, with loss of a few letters; bookplate of Casper Holstein. Frontispiece portrait supplied in facsimile. London, 1773 FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST BOOK OF POETRY BY AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN. The story of Wheatley and her astounding success is very well known and does not need to be repeated. This copy from the library of Bayard Rustin. Hampton catalogue 4358 (1801 edition); Blockson, 101 Influencial Books 68; Work, page 460 (1816 edition); Harris Collection, page 307.