Sell Your Slave Poster for up to $3,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders
FREE VALUATION. To buy, auction, sell or consign your slave poster that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
Runaway Slave Poster
Runaway slave ads were released around the country when slaves escaped from the slave owners. These publications shared quite a bit of detail about the slaves such as their life stories, mannerisms, appearances and clothing. Historians are currently studying these ads to learn more about their lives, patterns in the time of year they were able to escape and how escapes correlated with politics and economics.
We sold a runaway slave poster for $3,000. Lot details are below:
Very Scarce, Original 1856 Runaway Slave Poster — Large Broadside Measures 9″ x 12.75″
Original runaway slave poster, dated 25 March 1856 from Fredericksburg, Virginia. Poster reads in full: “Absconded from Traveller’s Rest Estate in Stafford county, three negro Men, Barnaby, Jim and Dilly…Billy left my farm on the 3d day of March, Jim on the 17th and Barnaby on the 24th. It is not believed that any of these men have any idea of escaping to a free State, but instead merely absconding where they can remain in the greatest safety with the least danger of being caught within any distance around the said estate, where they are most secure. Barnaby is a large man, about 50 years of age, is bald on the top of his head, had a full beard on when he left, is of a slick brown color, not a mulatto, nor a black; very broad shoulders, is a first-rate Blacksmith and Carpenter, speaks politely when addressed. Jim is about 35 or 40 years old, of about the same color of Barnaby, and tall, though small about the lower part of the body, and slender legs; smiles when spoken to with an averted glance. Billy is a…mulatto, very tall, broad shoulders, very bushy head and very large feet, and about 21 years of age. These men may be together, they are certainly merely lurking around with no idea of going to a free State. That is my belief, but they may in end making [sic] their way to a free state by the first chance. I will give forty dollars reward for Barnaby, thirty for Jim, and twenty-five for Billy…Robert A. Gray, Fredericksburg, Va.” Incidentally, Robert Gray’s estate, “Eastwood,” still stands in Fredericksburg and was used as a hospital during the Civil War. Poster has folding throughout, though expertly reinforced on verso. Fully intact poster, measuring 9″ x 12.75″, is in fair condition, typical of publicly displayed posters and broadsides from the time period. Very scarce. Sold for $3,000.
We also sold the following items:
“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” Inscribed Book by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe signed and inscribed copy of her incendiary work “Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly.” Published by Houghton, Osgood and Company, The Riverside Press: Boston: 1879. The “Holiday Edition,” inscribed and signed by the author in pencil on a preliminary leaf, “Very truly yours / H. B. Stowe / Bay View House / Aug. 16 1879.” A specially-designed reinvention of the book with the first appearance of Stowe’s 31-page introduction in which she describes the book’s creation. Octavo hardcover runs 529 pages, profusely illustrated with 106 illustrations in the text, some full-page; additionally, a stereoview showing Stowe’s residence is laid in. Publisher’s three-quarter dark brown morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and rules, and all edges gilt. Marbled endpapers. Text bordered in red. Housed in a red cloth clamshell case with a red leather spine label lettered in gilt. Binding and corners rubbed. Binding somewhat shaken with rear hinge detached. Front hinge starting. Despite these flaws, a clean, very good copy of a title rarely encountered signed. Sold for $3,709.
Consign your slave poster at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Send a description and images of your slave poster to us at [email protected].
Harriet Beecher Stowe Signed “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” — Also Includes Rare Inscribed Biblical Verse by Stowe
“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” signed and inscribed by Harriet Beecher Stowe dated 29 July 1893. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Company: 1893. Inscribed on the flyleaf, “Warren G. Kittredge with the best wishes / of his friend / Harriet Beecher Stowe / July 29 1893 / He that is faithful in that / which is least is faithful / also in much / Luke 16,10.” The Bible quote ties in with the sentiments Stowe writes of in Chapter XVII “The Freeman’s Defense”. The elderly Simeon encourages George with a quote from Psalms, and says “…it is often those who have least of all in this life whom He chooseth for the kingdom. Put thy trust in Him, and, no matter what befalls thee here, He will make all right hereafter.” Stowe’s signature is dark and clear. 566pp. hardcover has wear around edges and spine. Inside pages are heavily toned around edges, but very good condition otherwise. Front end papers with inscription are separated from binding. Small tear and crease along the right edge of the flyleaf just touching “that” and “faithful” of inscribed Biblical verse without any affect on legibility. In good condition. Sold for $3,000.
Auction your slave poster at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Send a description and images of your slave poster to us at [email protected].
Francis Scott Key autograph document signed, defending a slave named ”Negro Tom” from barbaric and tortuous treatment by his owner. Well known as the author of America’s national anthem, ”The Star-Spangled Banner”, Key was also an influential lawyer in his day who performed pro bono work defending slaves, especially those who had been abused. Dated 3 August 1803, Key writes in part, ”The petition of Negro Tom humbly showeth that…he daily receives from his master the said Dietric the most inhuman treatment, that on very frequent occasions he has been beaten by the said Dietric with the most excessive violence, & has at other times suffered most cruelly by being chained, tied and in other ways barbarously treated…He therefore humbly prays that your honors will take his unfortunately condition into your consideration & take such measures to prevent any repetition of his injuries as the law directs…F. S. Key / for Pet’r”. Single page measures 8.25” x 13.25”, with docketing and witnesses for the petitioner listed on verso. Beautifully housed in a custom clamshell case with quarter leather boards and spine tooled in gilt. Case measures 9” x 13.75”. Some chipping and toning to letter, and smudging to signature, overall very good condition. Case is near fine. With transcription. Sold for $1,773.
FREE VALUATION. To buy, auction, sell or consign your slave poster that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
We offer the following services for your slave poster:
- Appraise slave poster.
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