My Bondage and My Freedom
A first edition, first printing of My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass (Miller, Orton & Mulligan, 1855) is worth about $18,400 unsigned in near fine condition, based on recorded sales. The first point to check: Title page: “New York and Auburn: Miller, Orton & Mulligan … 1855”, with no print-run line (“Fifteenth Thousand”, “Eighteenth Thousand”…) above the title.
Market value · Unsigned, near fine
$18,400
Valued from 4 recorded sales in the last 12 months.
What a copy is worth
| Condition | Unsigned |
|---|---|
| Near fine | $18,400 |
| Very good | $15,640 |
How to identify this edition
These points tell this edition apart from other printings and editions of My Bondage and My Freedom.
✓ Title page: “New York and Auburn: Miller, Orton & Mulligan … 1855”, with no print-run line (“Fifteenth Thousand”, “Eighteenth Thousand”…) above the title
✓ Frontispiece: engraved portrait of Douglass with printed facsimile signature, plus two plates
✓ Collation: 464 pages, introduction by James M’Cune Smith
✓ Binding: publisher’s cloth (brown, black or purple), blind-stamped oval on the boards, gilt spine with a maple leaf and “Miller, Orton & Mulligan” at the foot
Common questions
- How do I know if my copy of My Bondage and My Freedom is a first edition, first printing?
- ✓ Title page: “New York and Auburn: Miller, Orton & Mulligan … 1855”, with no print-run line (“Fifteenth Thousand”, “Eighteenth Thousand”…) above the title ✓ Frontispiece: engraved portrait of Douglass with printed facsimile signature, plus two plates ✓ Collation: 464 pages, introduction by James M’Cune Smith ✓ Binding: publisher’s cloth (brown, black or purple), blind-stamped oval on the boards, gilt spine with a… The identification points above show each one.
- How much is a first edition, first printing of My Bondage and My Freedom worth?
- $15,640–$18,400 unsigned, depending on condition and whether it is signed (values as of October 2026). Values come from recorded sales of this exact printing, not asking prices.
- Can I sell my copy of My Bondage and My Freedom?
- Yes. We value the exact copy from recorded sales and make a firm cash offer, free and with no obligation to sell.
Selling a copy?
We value the exact copy from recorded sales and make a firm cash offer, free and with no obligation. Get an offer.