An Essay on the Causes of the Variety of Complexion and Figure in the Human Species

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A second edition copy of An Essay on the Causes of the Variety of Complexion and figure in the Human Species by Samuel Stanhope Smith, published in 1810. The text is a defense of the potential of Africans and their descendents, and suggests that dark skin is "a universal freckle." On pages 266 and 269, Smith refutes Jefferson's comments on Phillis Wheatley, writing "The poems of Phillis Whatley [sic], a poor African slave taught to read by the indulgent piety of her master, are spoken of [by Thomas Jefferson] with infinite contempt. But I will demand of Mr. Jefferson, or any other man, who is acquainted with American planters, how many of those masters could have written poems equal to those of Phillis Whatley [sic]?” Covers are replete with foxing spots, and the front cover has a tideline at bottom left. Spine is largely missing and bound pages are visible.

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