The Dignity of Human Nature; or, A Brief Account of the Certain and Established Means for Attaining the True End of Our Existence [provenance: Thomas D. Moore, black Union sailor during Civil War]

New York: James Oram, 1812. Hardcover. Very Good -. The third American, from the first London Edition. 527, [5] p.; 22 cm. Contemporary full tree calf with six spine compartments between double gilt rules. Red leather label in second compartment with gilt-tooled title "Burgh's Dignity." Small gilt-tooled decoration in other compartments. Subscribers Names on 3 unpaginated pages following text, all residents of New Jersey. Former owner's inscriptions at head and foot of title page largely removed. Pencilled inscription on front free endpaper: "This book was given to Chas. C. Rynick by Thomas D. More a colored friend. Aug. 16th 1910. Thos. D. More was a soldier in the Civil War 1861." This was probably Thomas D. Moore (1838-1920), who was one of the few black men who served with the U.S. Navy during the Civil War. Charles C. Rynick (b. 1856) was a hackman and coupe driver in Bridgeton, N.J.; his diary for 1916 is at Rutgers University Library. The book was used by a former owner to preserve presumably local New Jersey plants, with the name in pencil along a top page edge and the flower and/orleaves pressed below; some of the botanical specimens remain. In Very Good- Condition: leather label slightly chipped; edges rubbed; boards are scraped; foxing throughout; light discoloration occasionally along gutters from botanical specimens; tight. Very interesting provenance.