April 3, 2004, The Spring Manuscript and Collectibles Auction
Sale 24
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| 520 No lot. |
| 521 No lot. |
| 522 No lot. |
| 523 No lot. |
| 524 No lot. |
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| 525 Cargoes
of Slaves Offered For Sale. The June 8, 1807 issue of the
Charleston Courier offers four cargoes of slaves on Page 3. The
brig Alfred holds "84 very prime Negroes, from the Windward
Coast...."; the ship Africa holds "280 very prime Congo
slaves"; the Daphne has "460 prime Congo slaves"; and
the ship Alice "364 prime Negroes, from Bonny." 1807 was the
last year that it was legal to import slaves into the United States. The
very attractive front page has 20 ship woodcuts and a woodcut of a runaway
slave. Estimated Value $200-300. |
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| 526
Charleston Courier, June 13, 1807. 19½ x 12 inches, 4 pp.
Page 2 has ads for the sale of four cargoes of slaves: 48 "prime Gold
Coast slaves" from the schooner Concord; 105 "prime Windward Coast
slaves" from the schooner Hiram; 460 "prime Congo slaves" from the
Daphne, and 280 "very prime Congo slaves" from the Africa.
The year 1807 marked the last year that slave importation was legal. At
the insistence of President Thomas Jefferson, Congress passed a law that
prohibited the importation of slaves from Africa, effective January 1,
1808. Page 1 has two ads for runaway slaves, with woodcut illustrations of
a fleeing slave; page 1 also has 14 ship woodcuts. Some paper loss at
spine, away from text; normal toning and light foxing. Estimated Value $200-300. |
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| 527 The
Daily Progress, Raleigh, North Carolina, November 19, 1864. Single
sheet, 2 pp, 20½ x 15 inches, Very Good. Page 2 devotes four columns to
harsh criticism by the leading newspapers of the Confederacy of President
Jefferson Davis' recent message regarding arming the slaves and
restricting the press. Page 1 has 3 ads for slave sales, two of them
public auctions. One is for a group of six men, a girl, and a woman and
child, all of whom are "sound and healthy...not refugee negroes." Another
ad offers "BARGAIN IN NEGROES!" which offers "A family of very likely
House and Plantation Servants, five men and boys, three women and two
children, all intelligent and trustworthy..." in exchange for "a small
farm convenient to a railroad." Estimated Value $200-300. |
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| 528
(Flipper, Henry Ossian) (1856-1940) First African-American
to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; distinguished in
a variety of governmental and engineering positions. Manuscript Document
listing "The First Class according to Merit in Ordnance and
Gunnery," Headquarters U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., June
14, 1877, 1½ pages, 10 x 7½ inches. Flipper's name appears as number 57 in
the list of 76 cadets. Signed by an adjutant of the 10th Infantry, by
command of Major General Schofield. Light toning; mounting traces down
right edge of verso, else Fine. Upon graduation, Flipper was commissioned
second lieutenant and assigned to the 10th Cavalry. In 1881, his
commanding officer accused him of "embezzling funds and of conduct
unbecoming an officer and a gentleman." Flipper was court-martialed and
acquitted of embezzlement but found guilty of conduct unbecoming an
officer and dismissed from the Army. On February 19, 1999, President
Clinton pardoned Flipper, recognizing an error and acknowledging the
lifetime accomplishments of this American soldier. Estimated Value $400-600. |
"I lay down in terror every night...." |
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| 529 Folded
1831 Letter About the "negro girl Rachel." A frantic 2½ page
letter from Mrs. Husband, Herberts Roads, Maryland, to Thomas Bell, Esqr.
in Bell Air, about a slave named Rachel. In part, "You may recollect
the contention...The girl belonged to Tommy at the time of the
appraisement...two days before the sale, he ...forbid the sale...and
shew'd Mr. Bradford an article he had received of our Mother wherein she
promises to return his negro or an equivalent. She was very troublesome to
Mother...I promised to take care of her and at his return...give her
to [Tommy]...Mary Brown, from a foolish consciousness, wants her to
be free...I beg of you to have her awarded to him...She has now become
dangerous and is a most diabolical negro and there is too many of them
free already. I lay down in terror every night on her account and if she
is not put in the hands of some one who can carry authority, there will be
murder done...." Some toning and small fold tears. Very Good.
Estimated Value $300-400. |
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| 530 Oath
Regarding The Freedom Of A Mulatto Woman With A White Mother.
Manuscript document signed by William H. Poole, Justice of the Peace
for Frederick County, Maryland, May 3, 1828, 1 page, 7¾ x 8 in. Poole
certifies that Mary Ann Welsh appeared before him and swore that "Mary
Harper (a mulatto woman) was free born and that said Mary Ann Welsh knew
the mother of said Mary Harper and said mother was a white woman and was
free previous to the birth of said Mary Harper." Overall toning, else
Fine. A scarce document. Mulatto children were more commonly from slave
women and white plantation owners. Estimated Value $150-250. |
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| 531
Reconstruction Letter Mentioning Negro Troops. A 2-page
letter from C.I. Hudson in Columbus, Georgia to his father, Feb. 15, 1868.
In part: "Your freemen say that you shall be pleased with their
work...Ted is getting to be the best negro that you have got. He thinks
every thing is working all along smoothly and intends to do his best to
please you....Prince and his contractor had a difficulty...I have been
threatening to run him off but have not so far....Negro troops garrison
Columbus and it is supposed that they will also be sent to Hamilton."
With envelope. Very Good to Fine. Estimated Value $150-200. |