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Author: Heyward, DuBose.
Title: JASBO BROWN AND SELECTED POEMS.
Subject: African-American Experience and Culture of Charleston, South Carolina
Publication: New York: Farrar & Rinehart, (1931)
Edition: First Edition
Description: First edition. Hardcover, gilt-stamped brown cloth. First printing. 96 pages. A tight very good plus copy with a partial, former ownership bookplate with minor writing, some tiny chipping to the spine ends. No dust jacket.
Farrar & Rinehart, Inc. indicated their First Editions by the small oval logo forming the letters F an R immediately above the copyright line on the back of the title page.
The 1924 date is for the copyright date of the poetry, the 1931 is the date of first publication in book form.
Edwin DuBose Heyward (August 31, 1885 – June 16, 1940) was an American author who was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. He is best known for his 1925 novel Porgy. He and his wife Dorothy, a playwright, adapted it as a 1927 play of the same name. The couple worked with composer George Gershwin to adapt the work as the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. It was later adapted as a 1959 film of the same name. Heyward also wrote poetry and other novels and plays, and this book of selected poems reflected his observations of and experiences with black culture in Charleston during his childhood.
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Little Black Sambo is the featured story in this book with the short stories, "The Gingerbread Man" and Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse", added in as extras. While the illustrator in unnamed in the book's credits, all illustrations are executed by the same hand and are either initialed MEP" or signed "Margaret Evans Price".
A much-beloved children's classic written in the early 1900's by Englishwoman, Helen Bannerman, for her two daughters while they lived in India, Sambo, in the original tale, was an Indian boy and not an African-American child. He was soon converted to this race, however, by subsequent story tellers and illustrators. This age-old tale tells of Little Black Sambo and his frightening tiger encounter, which fortunately, has a happy ending!
The book exterior has seen much wear as evidenced in the photos, with significant wear to all edges, which amazingly, has had no effect on the sturdy structure of this book! The interior of the book remains in absolutely perfect condition, with an undamaged, very tight binding, and not an imperfection to be found-- no rips, stains, creases--only the inked inscription of the last name, "Meyere" on the upper right corner of the title page (see photos).
Illustrations are lovely and have that timeless yet nostalgic look of fine work produced in the Art Deco era!
Little Black Sambo books from this period are infrequently found!
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A much-beloved children's classic written in the early 1900's by Englishwoman, Helen Bannerman, for her two young daughters while they lived in India, Sambo, in the original tale, was an Indian boy and not an African-American child. He was converted over time to this race, however, by subsequent story tellers and illustrators. This age-old tale tells of Little Black Sambo and his frightening tiger encounter, which fortunately, has a happy ending!
Condition is 8 out of 10. This book has seen careful but frequent use with moderate wear to book cover edges as well as the red cloth spine cover. While the binding remains quite tight, surface soiling to covers and some interior pages is evident. The inside front cover reveals a penned inscription from an aunt to her nephew at Christmas, 1937.
This book retains outstanding, bold and brilliant coloring of all illustrations--- just fabulous---given its 89+ years of age!
There are small tears at the bottom of the following pages very near the bound side of the pages ranging from 1/2 to 1.5 inches long; some tears have old tape repairs: pages 9, 18, 19,20, 28, 33, 47, 49, 58.
A unique copy!
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The graphic of Mammy remains in very fine condition as are the painted list of groceries. Some old splintering of the wood on sides and edges add to the board's all original vintage patina! This memo board was once sold as a Canadian souvenir piece as it still retains its original "St Stephen Canada Maple Leaf" decal.
The white, shiny spots that may appear in the photos are the result of camera flash glare only and are not imperfections to this piece. Wood color is richer than photos could capture.
These pieces are heavily reproduced in today's market; however, it is quite uncommon to find a genuinely vintage, Mammy Memo Board with so many original pegs in such fine, vintage condition!!!
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A brief history of the Negro League:
African Americans first began to play baseball in the late 1800s on military teams, college teams, and company teams, eventually finding their way to the established professional baseball teams of white players. However, racism and “Jim Crow” laws would force African Americans from these teams by 1900, with black players left to form their own teams.
In 1920, an organized league structure was formed under the guidance of Andrew “Rube” Foster, a former player, manager, and owner for the Chicago American Giants. In a meeting held at the Paseo YMCA in Kansas City, Mo., Foster and several other Midwestern team owners joined to form the Negro National League. Soon, rival leagues formed in Eastern and Southern states, which brought black baseball to major urban centers and to rural countrysides in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. The Leagues maintained a high level of professional skill and inspired economic development in many black communities.
In 1945, when Major League Baseball’s Brooklyn Dodgers recruited Jackie Robinson from the Kansas City Monarchs, Robinson became the first African American in the modern era to play on a Major League roster. While this historic event was a key moment in baseball and civil rights history, it marked the decline of the Negro Leagues. The best black players began to be recruited for the Major Leagues with their black fans following them, and the last Negro Leagues teams folded in the early 1960s.
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The advertising card measures 2.75 inches x 4.50 inches and is entitled "Photography Under a Cloud". It features a fabulous litho of 5 African-American boys with exaggerated facial features who are attempting to take a photograph using an early camera. The litho is marked in the lower right corner "Bufford, Boston". The reverse side further advertises WELCOME SOAP and features two shaking hands.
The trade card is in very fine condition with nice color and some very subtle evidence of age staining as seen in photos. The card has no rips, bends, or fading, and would be lovely matted and framed!
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While some photos may appear a bit blurry, this is a function of photography and not condition. All postcards are crisp and clear! The two comical cartoon postcards are much more brightly and vividly colored than the photos depict. The eight photo postcards also feature titles describing their subjects.
A delightful grouping that would be much-appreciated framed!
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The AYER'S Cathartic Pills card is copyrighted 1883 in the lower right front corner by the J.C. Ayer Company Company, Lowell, Massachusetts. This card is brilliantly colored with a phenomenal graphic of the Black "Country Doctor" holding a small child who clutches an Ayer's Pills advertisement in her hand. The reverse side carries a testimony to the wonder of the multitude of curative properties of Ayer's Pills. The card measures 2 5/8 inches x 4 3/4 inches.
The 1st J.P. Coat's Company card is not copyrighted but is at the latest, a circa 1890's card, and features a smiling African-American boy seated on a spool of Coat's thread tickling a bright yellow shining sun. The card measures 3 inches x 4.50 inches. The reverse side is an advertisement for J.P. Coat's Fast Black Spool Cotton thread.
The Clarke's Spool Cotton Thread advertising card featuring an African-American boy beating a drum is sold.
The 2nd J.P. Coat's Thread card depicts a humorous scene of an African-American couple attempting to move a very stubborn mule. The card measures 3 inches x 4.75 inches. It is copyrighted on the reverse 1881 by Auchincloss & Brothers, New York. The reverse side advertises the myriad of J.P. Coat's products.
The final card is another Clark's Mile-End Spool Cotton advertisement that features a humorous lithograph of a well-dressed African-American man being tripped by a young Caucasian boy holding Clark's super-strong thread, and measures 2.75 inches x 4.50 inches. The reverse side is a continuation of testimony and advertisement for the product.
All trade cards are in very fine condition with nice color and some very subtle evidence of age staining as seen in photos. The cards have no rips, bends, or fading.
These seldom-found trade cards would look fabulous framed as a group!
As each is priced separately (see photos for pricing), please email us stating which item you wish to purchase so that we can customize your order form.
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The book tells the infamous story of ten little African-American boys who are gradually eliminated in number via one circumstance after another--most utterly horrid-- choking to death, chopping himself in half, being crushed by a bear, being swallowed by a red herring, etc, ending with the last boy sadly living all alone, a circumstance he happily remedies by getting married.
Originally published in 1868 under the Title of “The Ten Little Indians,” this poem was used during minstrel shows, which oftentimes were traveling acts, performed by white actors in blackface following the Civil War. The following year, the poem was adapted to this overtly horrid, racist rendition, replacing the word Indians with “Nigger” in both minstrel shows, printed sheet music, and children’s nursery rhyme books. This version married the stereotypes of violence and ignorance within the African-American population with the intent of "villain-izing" freed, black males while simultaneously allowing violent acts to befall the black characters portrayed in the rhyme.
This 113 year old book remains in all-original, very good condition with no alterations or repairs. Original binding and stitching remain quite tight and intact. Illustrated by R. J. (James) Williams, the interior illustrations remain very brightly colored. Pages present varying degrees of very light soiling, light foxing, and yellowing of linen, commensurate with age. Some pages also show subtle water staining that has not impacted cloth integrity. No tears or rips to fabric.
This book is in truly remarkable condition for its age and in consideration of its all-cloth construction. This title is very RARELY found in today's market and is an absolute cornerstone piece in any serious Black Memorabilia collection!
To view other versions of this book presently available for separate purchase, please type the words "ten little" into the SEARCH box on our home page.
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Mammy or Aunt Jemima is wearing a white dress and head scarf with red trim. Her dark brown skin is flawless (any white spots or marks seen in photos are the result of light reflection and do not represent flaws of any kind.)
While she is unmarked, there is a very small black "X" on the bottom of the backside of her dress.
An incredibly hard to find piece! These very functional pieces were, more often than not, actually used in the home on ironing day, and thus were subject to damage or breakage and ended up in pieces at the local landfill! This wonderful Black American collectible was acquired from the original owner where it rested safely on a display shelf all these many years!
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This fabulous metal trunk display features the likeness of 4 Black Gentleman within its copper-toned, product advertisement appearing on the interior of the trunk lid! Product testimonials are written in English, French, German,& Spanish!
Measuring 13 inches long x 8 3/4 inches wide x 7 1/2 inches high, this wonderful early trunk is in remarkable, un-restored, all-original condition and retains its original, functional lock and key! Minor surface scratches are evident along edges where wear is generally expected in an item of this age. Such scratches are most evident on the rear panel. These imperfections do not detract from the striking visual appeal of the trunk! This trunk is actually in quite remarkable condition for its 90+ years of age!
A high quality item when originally produced, please note the trunk's wonderful exterior lithographed details which mimic the exterior of an actual trunk!
A fabulous and extremely RARE, early advertising piece that doubles as a unique and RARE BLACK AMERICANA COLLECTIBLE!
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The tin bears a copyright date of 1928, and given its fine condition, was obviously safely tucked away over the past 75+ years!
Processed and packaged by the William B. Reilly Company of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Baltimore, Maryland, this fabulous tin retains its original bail handle as well as its original cover! The tin features a vivid graphic of "Mammy Serving Coffee" which was the second style of Mammy graphic used by the company on its coffee tins. Additionally, this tin was part of a special sale promotion as evidenced by the advertising on the lid which is now partially worn off. The advertising reads: "Special 15 Cents Off Offer".
In marvelous condition- an especially lovely and visually appealing piece of vintage Black Americana advertising!!!
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The bodies are one single piece with one hand each on Mammy and the Chef that serve as stoppers for the two pouring spouts. The piece is marked with a "V" for Vinegar and an "O" for Oil on each arm. Very sweet faces!
All original with no breaks, cracks, repaint or repairs, the cruet retains the original corks as well! In truly lovely condition with just one scrape to the red paint under the chef's left arm and some missing paint spots on his right arm. (see photos) Otherwise quite perfect, and displaying very, very well!!! An eye-catching piece!!!
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This sign once hung on the inside of a railroad car, designating the line behind which African Americans must remain-- in the back of the car.
The sign is painted in gold lettering on both sides as follows: the back of the sign is painted, "FOR COLORED PASSENGERS", while the front of the sign is painted, "FOR WHITE PASSENGERS".
The sign is in all-original condition and has some paint fading, fading of the wood stain in given places (please view photos), and imperfections in the wood as noted in photos. These do not impact the integrity of the sign and are appropriate to the age and purpose of the piece. The sign retains all of its original hardware including "keyhole" receptacle for hanging the sign inside of the railroad car.
An utterly phenomenal, extremely RARE, one-of-a-kind, museum-worthy piece of Black American history that may very well be the only one of its kind extant today!
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It is quite the extraordinary find to discover any Black Memorabilia item reflecting the common but not widely acknowledged practice of interracial marriage among the indigenous Native American and the freed/slave African American population in 18th and 19th century Southern New England coastal towns and cities that were part of the Slave/Sugar/Rum Trade Triangle of the era. Rightfully viewed as a museum piece, this finely-executed figural bowl is certainly reflective of a unique and little known aspect of African American as well as Native American History!
The bowl is in utterly pristine condition with no faults other than expected age patina to the surface. There are no markings on this piece which appears to be hand forged given the subtle asymmetry of the overall shape of the bowl as well as the detailing of the facial features.
This truly unique and rare item would be an important addition to the serious collector’s Black Americana collection!
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THIS TOY WAS NEVER USED!!!
The Banjo / Ukulele face has fantastic and patriotic, red and blue graphics on white ground featuring a cute Black Minstrel dancer, a Caucasian Banjo/Uke player, 2 Southern Cotton Bolls, and a fab graphic of a Mississippi River boat christened the "Robert E. Lee"!
Even the original box features a delightful graphic of a Black Minstrel playing the banjo/uke!
Made in the USA by MASTRO, New York, no date of manufacture is imprinted; however, given the styling of the graphics on both the banjo face and in the instruction booklet, an early 1960's date of manufacture has been surmised. Additionally, Mastro Co. also made an identically styled early Beatles banjo- further evidence of an early 1960's manufacture date.
Banjo / Uke measures approximately 21 inches long x 9 inches wide x 3 inches deep. Box measures 23" x 9.50" x 3.75". Box has some very subtle edge wear to seams and corners and one of the cardboard carrying handles has ripped with a 1" handle segment missing. Toy is MINT!!! Photos speak for themselves!
A Pristine Piece of Vintage Black Americana!