Uncle Tom's Cabin

by Stowe, Harriet Beecher

In Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriett Beecher Stowe, the title character Uncle Tom is a long-suffering slave, loyal to both his faith and his master. Presented with an opportunity to escape, he instead chooses to remain in slavery to avoid embarrassing his master. After being sold to a slave trader, Tom suffers brutal treatment and is eventually beaten to death for his refusal to betray his friends — made to represent an ideal of true Christianity. Enormously popular (it was the best-selling novel of the 19th century) and influential, it’s publication in 1852 was instrumental in bringing visibility to the cruel reality of slavery. In more recent years, it has come under considerable criticism for its portrayal of meekness and subservience and the phrase “Uncle Tom” is sometimes used as an epithet for someone seen as overly subservient. 

First Edition Identification

Uncle Tom’s Cabin was originally published serially over 40 weeks in the abolitionist journal The National Era, beginning June 5, 1851. It was published by John P. Jewett the following year in two volumes with six illustrated plates by Hammett Billings. The initial printing was 5000 copies and was made available in three different bindings: brown cloth with a gilt ornament on the front board, blue cloth with additional gilt ornamentation, and a paper wrapper. Subsequent editions were issued shortly thereafter, including a holiday “gift edition” in brown gilt cloth with additional illustrations by Billings and an inexpensive “Edition for the Million” in paper wrappers for 37 1/2 cents. The first printing has the following points of issue: “split” instead of “spiled” on page 42 of the first volume, “catechism” rather than “catechism” on page 74 of the second volume, and no attribution to Billings for the engravings. First edition, first printings generally exceed $5,000 and can reach upwards of $15,000 with Stowe’s signature. 

Other Collectible or Notable Editions

Other notable editions include a Limited Editions Club with lithographs by Raymond Weaver in 1938 and a Easton Press edition with lithographs by Miguel Covarrubias published in 1979.

Reviews

Review this book!

On Mar 31, 2020, Anonymous said

Excellent book to gain empathy and insight into the enslaved pathos, struggle and plight! This book presents well designed ideas to ennoble and elivate the human race as brothers, and sisters of a common God, and Father of us all.

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UNCLE TOM'S CABIN; or, Life Among the Lowly
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UNCLE TOM'S CABIN; or, Life Among the Lowly

by Stowe Harriet Beecher

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Used
Published
1852
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Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA
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Boston: John P. Jewett & Company, 1852. 2 volumes. First edition. Later Issue, in the Rare Special Presentation Binding, elaborately gilt decorated and gilt edged, first edition of the text with later points. Copyright statement of Geo. C. Rand & Co. Illustrated with original engravings. 8vo, publisher's original purple-brown cloth, with full gilt decorated… Read more about this item
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Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, life among the lowly

Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, life among the lowly

by STOWE, HARRIET BEECHER

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Used
Published
1852
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Stevenson, Maryland, USA
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FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING. "These books are of such paramount historical importance that it is difficult to evaluate them as literature" (Merle Johnson). "Three thousand copies were sold on the day of publication, and before its first anniversary, over 300,000 copies were sold in America … More than twenty London editions appeared in 1852, so the English audience must have… Read more about this item
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Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly
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Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly

by Harriet Beecher Stowe

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Used - Fair
Jacket Condition
No Jacket
Published
1853
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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CAIRO, New York, USA
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$1,875.00

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Boston: John P. Jewett and Company, 1853 Antique book with wear to the red leather cover, gilt decoration. Pages are loose, tanned with age. This is a book in need of restoration, but worth it. An early copy of this classic.
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$1,875.00
Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly.

by Stowe, Harriet Beecher

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Used
Published
1852
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Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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London: H. G. Bohn, 1852.
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$1,250.00
UNCLE TOM'S CABIN. (TWO VOLUMES)
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UNCLE TOM'S CABIN. (TWO VOLUMES)

by Stowe, Harriet Beecher

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Used
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Richmond, Missouri, USA
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Boston: John P. Jewett & Company, 1852. BAL Binding B variant. "25th thousand" on each title page. First Edition, Second Printing. Original brown cloth, gilt vignette of cabin on upper boards. BAL notes first publication date in March, with 50,000 printed by May 15. Hobart & Robbins imprint on copyright page of both volumes. Sympathetically and skillfully recased and rebacked… Read more about this item
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Uncle Tom's Cabin
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Uncle Tom's Cabin

by Harriet Beecher Stowe

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Used - Very Good+
Published
1852
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1
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Tomball, Texas, USA
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First Edition/Early Reissues (Eightieth and Seventy-Fifth Thousand) in two volumes; A Very Good to Near Fine set housed in a custom slipcase. A handsome and well preserved set of this important work; reportedly, Lincoln said to Ms. Stowe upon meeting her "so this is the little lady who started this great war". The best selling novel of the 19th century… Read more about this item
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Uncle Tom's Cabin: A Tale of Life among the Lowly--with over 100 illustrations from Original Drawinsg by Celebrated Artists

Uncle Tom's Cabin: A Tale of Life among the Lowly--with over 100 illustrations from Original Drawinsg by Celebrated Artists

by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Condition
Used - Fair
Published
1897
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Bordentown, New Jersey, USA
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$60.00

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Philadelphia and Chicago: International Publishing Company, 1897. Hardcover. Fair. Scarce. Quarto hardcover in tan cloth lettered and decorated in red, green and black. Light green and white patterned endpapers. Frontis portarit of Stowe. John C. Winston imprint on copyright page an date of 1897. Title page printed in red and black. xiv (Introduction and Life of the Author,… Read more about this item
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$60.00
Uncle Tom's Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly.
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Uncle Tom's Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly.

by Harriet Beecher Stowe

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Used - Good
Edition
First Edition
Published
1852
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1
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Centreville, Virginia, USA
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$850.00

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Hardcover. Condition: Good. Two volumes. Volume I - 70th thousand printing. Volume II - 80th thousand printing. Octavo. Original brown cloth. Damage to both spine strips. Some chipping to the board on Volume I. Ownership inscription on FFEP of Vol. II. Internally very clean. Unlike other copies, virtually no foxing.
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$850.00
Uncle Tom's Cabin ; or, Life Among the Lowly (Volume 1 only, 20th thousand)
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Uncle Tom's Cabin ; or, Life Among the Lowly (Volume 1 only, 20th thousand)

by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Condition
Used - Poor
Edition
1st Edition Twentieth Thousand
Published
1852
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Winston, Georgia, USA
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Boston: John P. Jewett & Company, 1852. 1st Edition Twentieth Thousand. Hardcover. Poor. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. See photos for condition details. Hardcover, dark brown stamped boards with gilt design on front. The book is in very poor condition but appears complete. Rear board is detached and front board is precariously hanging on by a… Read more about this item
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Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly.
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Uncle Tom’s Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly.

by Stowe, Harriet Beecher.

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Used
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San Francisco, California, USA
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Boston: John P. Jewett & Company. Cleveland, Ohio: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, 1852. 2 vols, 8vo, [iii], vi-x, [1], 13-312; [i-iii], iv, [1], 6-322 pp. With six engraved plates by Hammett Billings (three in each volume). Original publisher’s brown cloth over boards. BAL B binding with vignette on top cover stamped in gilt; backstrips lettered in gilt, otherwise… Read more about this item
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Uncle Tom's Cabin: a tale of life among the lowly

Uncle Tom's Cabin: a tale of life among the lowly

by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Condition
Used - Good+
Jacket Condition
No Jacket
Edition
1st Edition thus?
Published
1897
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Binghamton, New York, USA
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$45.00

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Chicago/ Philadelphia/ Toronto: John C. Winston, 1897. 1st Edition thus? . Hardcover. Good+/No Jacket. Art by celebrated artists. 13500 shelf. Gold, red & dark green-stamped slate green cloth. Dulled spine lettering. Inked name FEP. Cracked back hinge. Attr. edition w/ over 100 b/w illus.
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Uncle Tom's Cabin
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Uncle Tom's Cabin

by Stowe, Harriet Beecher

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Used
Published
1864
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Nevada City, California, USA
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Originally published in 1852 this is a very rare third edition, second printing by Ticknor. According to Ticknor and Fields Copyright Books in the Houghton Library, Harvard University, only 700 copies of this edition were printed in 1864 from the original Jewett plates. Only one library in Woldcat has a copy of this edition. The volume has been professionally… Read more about this item
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$500.00
Uncle Tom's Cabin: or, Life Among The Lowly

Uncle Tom's Cabin: or, Life Among The Lowly

by Stowe, Harriet Beecher

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Used
Edition
First Edition
Published
1852
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1
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Deep River, Connecticut, USA
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Boston: John P. Jewett & Company, 1852. First Edition . second printing Both small octavo volumes of this two volume set are in very good condition in original light brown cloth covered boards with off-white end sheets, blind embossing around the edges of each board with a gilt embossing in the center of each front board… Read more about this item
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Uncle Tom's Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly (Signed notice laid in)
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Uncle Tom's Cabin; Or, Life Among the Lowly (Signed notice laid in)

by Stowe, Harriet Beecher (1811-1896)

Condition
Used - Near Fine. Some fading and light wear to the original cloth bindings.
Edition
First Edition
Published
1852
Binding
Original cloth. Octavos
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Annapolis, Maryland, USA
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Boston: John P. Jewett & Company, 1852. First Edition. Original cloth. Octavos. Near Fine. Some fading and light wear to the original cloth bindings.. A lovely copy of one of the most influential books on 19th century America. Mrs. Stowe's book and its widespread readership in the North solidified abolition sentiment and hastened the oncoming Civil War. <br… Read more about this item
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Uncle Tom's Cabin
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Uncle Tom's Cabin

by Harriet Beecher Stowe

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Used - Fair
Published
circa 1893-1900
Binding
Coated cloth over boards
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Independence, Missouri, USA
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From inside page titled "Harriet Beecher Stowe. - 1812-1898." : "Uncle Tom's Cabin may not have been the creation of a literary art, but it is so earnestly written, and excites so deep an interest in suffering, misfortune and injustice, that readers, as a rule, do not so much as think of the style in the living picture, -… Read more about this item
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Uncle Tom's Cabin

Uncle Tom's Cabin

by Stowe, Harriet Beecher

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Used - Good
Published
1893
Binding
Hardcover
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CARSON CITY, Nevada, USA
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U.S.A.: Houghton, Mifflin Co, 1893. Book. Good. Hardcover. Brunswick Edition. First Thus. Boards Are Dirty And Stained. Bb Sized Hole To The Rear Board. Page Edges Are Well Worn And Stained. Interior Is Legible And All Pages Are Present. .
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$25.00
Uncle Tom's Cabin

Uncle Tom's Cabin

by Stowe Harriet Beecher

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Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
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Fredericton, New Brunswick, CAN
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Chicago: M.A. Donohue & Co Book. Illus. by Some illustrations signed E. Thatcher and Eckman. Good. Hardcover. 4 to., (25cm). [189?] cloth spine, full color cover, (rear cover blank),64 pages, illustrations, wear at edges, small,old moisture mark top fore edge of rear cover, CONTENTS: Uncle Tom and Little Harry are sold -- Eliza runs away with Little Harry -- The… Read more about this item
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Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among The Lowly

Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among The Lowly

by Stowe, Harriet Beecher

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Used - Acceptable
Published
1852
Binding
Hardcover
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Binghamton, New York, USA
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John P. Jewett and Company, 1852. Hardcover. Acceptable. Prompt shipment, with tracking. we ship in CLEAN SECURE NEW boxes Acceptable copy with stains to most pages. Vol I only. First edition. Tearing to cover of spine. Tips bumped. Edges of cover chipped. Sm8vo. Published in Boston, 1852. 312 pages.JM
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Uncle Tom's Cabin
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Uncle Tom's Cabin

by Stowe, Harriet Beecher

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Used
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North Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN
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Uncle Tom's Cabin, With A New Preface Expressly Written For This Edition, Authorized For The Continent Of Europe, Stowe, Harriet Beecher. Published by Bernhard Tauchnitz, Leipzig, 1852. From the Collection of British Authors; Volume One: CCXLIII. Volume Two: CCXLIV. 16mo up to 6½" tall. Volume One: 352pp. with frontis portrait of Harriet Beecher Stowe; preface; title; contents. … Read more about this item
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Uncle Tom's Cabin
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Uncle Tom's Cabin

by Stowe, Harriet Beecher

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Edition
Limited ed
Published
1938
Binding
1/2 leather
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Petaluma, California, USA
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New York: Limited Edition Club, 1938. Limited ed. 1/2 leather. Near Fine. Migeul Covarrubias. 4to, 10 1/2 x 7 1/2". [xv], 294 pgs plus colophon. Half-bound in brown leather with marbled paper boards. All page edges marbled. In original slipcase. #245 of 1500 copies. 16 lithographs in B&W by Miguel Covarrubias and signed by him in the colophon.… Read more about this item
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$300.00