1772 PHILLIS WHEATLEY. First Edition of "On Recollection" and Her First Published Poem!

Phillis Wheatley. The Annual Register, or a View of the History, Politics, and Literature For the Year 1772. London. J. Dodsley. 1773. First Edition. 26 + 246pp. The Annual Register was an anthology of new and extant literary works from the year 1772, most significantly including in this year, an original, previously unpublished poem by Phillis Wheatley entitled On Recollection. The poem, published here when Wheatley was but 18 years of age, would be included in her first book of poetry the succeeding year. On Recollection remains the first significant appearance of one of her poems ever printed, and here in the first edition. Though a slave in America, she appeared in England first for good reason. Wheatley's owners, who seem to have cared deeply for her, tried to have her work published in the colonies but were refused by ever publishing house. They were, it seemed, unwilling to promote the work of an enslaved woman of color. As a result, Wheatley was sent to London where aboliti