The British Abolitionist Movement and print culture: James Phillips, activist, printer and bookseller

This paper investigates the role of print culture in the British Abolitionist movement. The paper will focus on the role of James Phillips as both activist and as the publisher of the greatest number of tracts and publications in the period. the Quaker’s official printer, James Phillips worked closely with the first association formed in Britain in 1783 to work for the abolition of slavery and the slave trade, and was a founding member of the London Abolition Committee in 1787. An active member of the Committee until his death in 1799, Phillips hosted meetings in his home above his business, acted as a key contact with individuals within the movement within the UK, and was the Committee's liaison with abolitionists in France. Phillips also played an important role as printer for the Committee of its own publications and an increasing number of other works sought out to promote the abolitionist cause. Research for the project concentrates on Phillips as printer, publisher and bookseller and the output of his publishing and printing work for the Abolitionist movement, within a framework of understanding print cultures of the period.