Subject: Shipwrecks

Book - "An Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce, Wrecked on the Western Coast of Africa, in the Month of August, 1815. With an Account of the Sufferings Of Her Surviving Officers and Crew, Who Were Enslaved By the Wandering Arabs"....One of the earliest (if not the earliest) known copper engraving of a circumcism in a popular American book. Also as Riley is a slave he is last in the pecking order...1) Blacks 2) Jews...as artsians 3) Christains This edition is not found in OCLC...it may well be the 1st edition. "Hartford; Published by the Author.... James Riley was one of the most celebrated, skillful, and ill-starred American seaman of the 19th century. Riley (1777-1840) survived shipwreck and enslavement by the Arabs in Morocco in 1815, and in 1817 published this account of his and his shipmates' ordeal that went through many editions and became one of the most popular books of the 19th century. Abraham Lincoln called it one of his half dozen favorite books, and he was surely influenced by the book's description of white Americans enslaved and humiliated by black Moors, as well as by Riley's salute to the charity and benevolence of a Muslim.This is a one of the most famous accounts of shipwreck, slavery, and rescue in all of American history! It had been re-published throughout the 19th Century....

Book -This is a one of the most famous accounts of shipwreck, slavery, and rescue in all of American history! It had been re-published throughout the 19th Century. Notes Jews in Slaver's pecking order. Illustration of circumcision "AN AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE OF THE AMERICAN BRIG COMMERCE, WRECKED ON THE WESTERN COAST OF AFRICA, IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 1815"... By James Riley. New York: publisher: and Published by the Author, 1818. Third Edition New York: 407p. Illustrated and embellished with ten handsome copperplate engravings, including a folding map. 8vo (5 1/2" x 8 3/4"), Original full leather binding. Some light to medium scattered foxing. Half of the fold-out map of Africa is missing. One of the earliest known copper engraving of a circumcism in a popular American book. Also as Riley is a slave he is last in the pecking order...1) Blacks 2) Jews...as artsians 3) Christains. James Riley and James Barron were two of the most celebrated, skillful, and ill-starred American seamen of the 19th century. Riley (1777-1840) survived shipwreck and enslavement by the Arabs in Morocco in 1815, and in 1817 published this account of his and his shipmates' ordeal that went through many editions and became one of the most popular books of the 19th century. Abraham Lincoln called it one of his half dozen favorite books, and he was surely influenced by the book's description of white Americans enslaved and humiliated by black Moors, as well as by Riley's salute to the charity and benevolence of a Muslim. Bound with A NARRATIVE OF THE SHIPWRECK OF THE SHIP OSWEGO, ON THE COAST OF SOUTH BARBARY... By Judah Paddock her late master. New York: Published by Collins & Co. 1818. 186 pages. ...first edition. The Ship Oswego was based in Hudson, New York, and commanded by Captain Judah Paddock. In 1800, it sailed for the Cape Verde Islands to load salt for New York, with 14 people on board. The ship was lost, but all 14 hands made it to shore in Lisbon. After a mutiny by the crewmen and nearly dying from dehydration, they were captured by a band of Arabs. They were imprisoned and held for ransom. After months of captivity, the ransom was paid and the crew returned to New York. Upon landing in New York, Paddock told his story to Secretary of State John Marshall and wrote this book about his ordeal.

Issue of the Pennsylvania Packet, and Daily Advertiser newspaper published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 22, 1785. Includes a story titled "Anecdote of a Jew," detailing a German Jew's delayed repayment of a debt to his savior from a shipwreck.