Catalog: Archives: Collectibles: Memorabilia (159)

This fabulous later 19th century/early 20th century, wool, needlepoint sampler measures 19" wide by 17" long and contains many truly fascinating images that add to the mystery of the sampler’s origin: an American flag and a Royal crown, a Canadian maple leaf, numerous varieties of lovely flowers, two black children on a see-saw, a black girl with her hands on her hips, a center hall style colonial era home, a woman carrying a bag with her hand extended out to a little dog, "Jumbo" the elephant from the circus; a yellow Labrador Retriever, several cats, a rooster, horse, and winged bug, a doe and stag, a bird on a branch, 2 little children -- a girl and boy -- with their backs to us, the initial “S” repeated twice, what appears to be a Celtic design, and a cross with wreath.

One cannot help but wonder whether or not this sampler was completed by black female who was illustrating her life history which included involvement in the UNDERGROUND RAILROAD! The references to BOTH Canada (the maple leaf and the crown) and the US (the American Flag) along with the black images are rather curious, making this a very plausible theory! The sampler certainly depicts happy images of life within an affluent (Irish?) household. Hmmm…could this well-executed sampler have possibly been completed by an ex-slave?????

This magnificent sampler is in very good condition for its 100+ years of age. There is some running of the red wool yarns, most probably the result of a previous owner’s attempt to clean the piece. This likely can be removed professionally, although I do not feel it is a significant detraction and question the necessity of attempting to do so. The edges are a bit frayed, but there are no dirt stains, holes, tears, or repairs, and except for isolated areas, the needlepoint stitching remains in wonderful condition!

This colorful and mysterious sampler would be a thought-provoking addition to one’s Black Americana collection!

The 1852 publication of Harriet Beecher Stowe's, UNCLE TOM'S CABIN, caused an international sensation which prompted many potters in Great Britain to produce a plethora of objects depicting various scenes and sentiments from the novel.

One of the most distinctive pieces to be produced came from the Staffordshire pottery of Ridgway and Abingdon, and in time, came to be referred to as 'the slavery relief jug'.

The jug displays two very compelling scenes from the novel: the dreadful slave auction depicting a devastated and weeping, soon-to-be-separated slave family on one side, and on the other side, the fugitive slave, Eliza, fleeing north from enslavement with her baby in her arms across the ice floes of the Ohio River. A notable detail on the side of the jug depicting the auction- the broadside posted on the auctioneer's podium reads, "By Auction this Day a Prime Lot of Negroes".

In addition to these two scenes, the jug handle is decorated with the iconic image of the head and clasped hands of a slave (presumably Uncle Tom) in prayer.

The underside of the jug is stamped by the maker and is dated January 1, 1853, indicating that it was produced within just months of the 1852 publication of UNCLE TOM'S CABIN.

Made of Parian stoneware, the jug measures approximately 7 inches high, with an approximate 3.5 inch diameter mouth. The jug is in all-original and overall excellent condition. Two slight and tight hairline cracks are evident at the base and are best viewed by looking into the interior of the jug as their presence is much more subtle on the exterior and thus more difficult to photograph. One of these hairlines is present along the foot of the jug; the other occurs a bit higher up in acanthus leaves that border the baseline near the ice floes. A single, tight hairline is also present at the interior mouth near the handle (please refer to all photos). None of the hairlines affect structural integrity as they are quite tight; they are not atypical given the jug's 150+ years of age.

An exceptional and formidable piece of history, very rarely found in today's antiques market!

Offered is an extraordinarily RARE, pre-Civil War, Negro slave document from Decatur County, Georgia, dated May 1837.

This document is an exceptionally rare piece of historical ephemera in that it is the actual, formal and legal lawsuit filed by slave owner, Esther Miller, along with 25 other named male citizens of Decatur County, Georgia, against one Cader Powell for the "offense of beating, whipping, and assaulting a slave without sufficient provocation."

The document goes on to state that Cader Powell assaulted "a certain male slave named Issac (property of Esther Miller) with sticks, fists, cow pokins, and other dangerous weapons and then did unlawfully whip beat him, so that the healthy body of service of said slave was greatly injured without sufficient provocation being first given by said slave to the great annoyance of the said Esther Miller, the lawful owner of said slave..."

While one would like to think that this formal lawsuit was filed as a result of the tremendous outrage against humanity felt by the 26 parties bringing the suit, one has to consider that this lawsuit was more likely filed due to financial considerations--that the cruelly assaulted slave, Issac's, monetary value as owned, usable property was greatly diminished as a result of his beating. It is quite reasonable to infer that the slave, Isaac, suffered permanent physical injury as a result of his beating and that his monetary worth was thus, permanently devalued.

Regardless of the motivation behind the filing of the lawsuit, to find such extant documentation describing the conditions of southern slavery as well as the objection of slave-owners to the cruel and inhumane treatment of a slave is rare indeed.

The document remains in excellent, all-original condition. It measures 7.75 inches wide x 9.75 inches long.

Once part of the Middle Passage Museum inventory, these authentic and extraordinarily RARE adult’s slave shackles have been de-accessioned. These plantation-made, iron, 19th century shackles were once used on a Georgia plantation. They remain all-original and untouched with over 170 years of patina. Superficial rust is present with structural integrity unaffected. These RARE shackles measure a total of 29 inches in length with fourteen, worn, chain links. A horrible, tangible testament to the malevolence of slavery.

Also currently offered for sale and priced separately are two extraordinarily RARE sets of CHILD's slave shackles-- one set retaining the ORIGINAL KEY. This set of shackles is featured in the last photo. Please type the word "shackles" in the search box on our home page to find all 3 sets of shackles currently offered.

The Middle Passage Museum was the dream of Jim and Mary Anne Petty of Mississippi as well as that of an anonymous Georgian benefactor who had together compiled a collection of slave artifacts numbering over 15,000 pieces and who had hoped to find a permanent site in Mobile, Alabama, for their museum. While they formed a non-profit organization to raise funds for their hoped-for museum, their dream was never realized.

In a 2003 statement, Jim Petty remarked, "The importance of the exhibit of these artifacts is to understand the harshness of what slavery and segregation was all about. The items in the exhibit remind us of the terrible heinousness of slavery. Viewing the collection can be very emotional, but it is a tool through which we can understand, honor and respect a great culture. We want to realize that out of slavery, a great culture emerged, and carried on, and continued to strive for a better life regardless of the adverse conditions that were placed upon them."

An extraordinarily RARE 19th CENTURY piece of Black Americana advertising featuring a fabulous graphic of 2 young African American painters holding a "White-Wash Boy's Hydrated Lime" box.

This product was produced by the lime manufacturers, Hatmaker and Place, of Canaan, Connecticut, in the late 1800s. This small company was located within a large "lime belt" that stretched from Connecticut to Vermont. Back in the day, lime powder mixed with water was quite commonly used to "white wash" or paint numerous surfaces, and it was also used as a medicinal disinfectant! The manufacture of lime from marble was one of the earliest and most successful mineral industries in Connecticut, with historical records dating the establishment of the first CT lime manufactory to 1722.

Given its age and the fragility of paper, condition of this wonderful box is quite good. The lower portion of the back side of the box evidences light surface wear with some of the printing on the lower portion of the box worn away as a result. The front of the box has a 3.25 inch long tear which resulted in the loss of the lime powder from the box.

This early piece of Black Americana advertising is EXCEEDINGLY RARE and may well be a ONE-OF-A-Kind item! The Hatmaker and Place Company was one of a number of very small manufactories located within the "lime belt" that were ALL bought out and immediately closed down by a wealthy group of investors who then created and incorporated the mammoth monopoly, The New England Lime Company, early in 1902.

This fabulous piece of Black Americana is NOT to be missed by the serious collector!

Offered is a VERY RARELY found, 1890's, Black Memorabilia-themed trade card advertising Welcome Soap, a product manufactured by Curtis Davis & Company.

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!

This stately, titled, English Staffordshire figure of a seated Uncle Tom and Little Eva was produced circa 1855. Inspired by Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 1853 publication of her controversial “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, the figure depicts the gentle Uncle Tom bouncing his little mistress, Miss Eva, on his knee.

The figure is decorated in underglaze black, measures 9 inches high, and is in perfect condition with the exception of expected and appropriate superficial crackling to the glaze, and a shallow and very tight, early hairline to the back of the figure at its base. It is titled “Uncle Tom & Eva” on the front base.

An very exceptional piece of Black Memorabilia for the discriminating collector.

Offered are four, VERY SELDOM found, 1880's & 1890's, Black Memorabilia-themed trade cards priced at $40.00 each or all 4 for $140.00.

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.

Measuring just under 6.5 inches in width, this VERY RARE, 19th century, hand-forged iron, slave collar with unusual incised detailing was recently uncovered in Texas.

Complete with functional locking mechanism and -even more scarcely found- a working key, this seldom found piece remains in excellent, all-original condition and stands as a horrid, tangible testament to the malevolence of slavery.

The collar is constructed of two, hefty, separate, semi-circular pieces of iron that are hinged together via a thick iron pin that has a "head" on either end preventing the two pieces from separating. While the interior of the collar is plain, the exterior, very unusually, has been "decorated" with incised diagonal lines cut between horizontal, incised banding at the top and bottom of each piece (see photos). The collar, thus, opens and closes at only one end.

The collar is locked and unlocked via a hand-forged locking mechanism that, amazingly, retains its original key--- an extraordinarily rare occurrence today as typically the key has been long ago lost. The locking mechanism remains smooth and is readily operable. It is unlocked by fully inserting the key and slowly turning it to the right until the pin holding the lock in place is released. To lock, reinsert the open hinge into the lock and hold in place while turning the key to the left.

An excellent and rare example of an artifact of slavery- a material reminder of the malevolence and cruelty suffered by African-Americans in 17th, 18th, and 19th century America.

A powerful piece of Black Americana, this original and seldom-found, 1897, photo lithograph entitled “Alligator Bait” is a stark reminder of the historic prejudice and racism suffered by Americans of African heritage.

Measuring 11 inches by 25 inches wide, the piece is signed in the lower right corner, "Copyright by McCrary & Branson 189_ Knoxville, Tenn.", with the numeral 7 gone due to missing bits of the paper edge. Research has documented the copyright date of 1897.

The condition is very fine and all-original including the wooden frame and wooden backing. The glass is a replacement. There is some minor water damage here and there along the lower edge as documented in photos which does not impact the image. Some minor paper edge loss is noted in photos.

Indeed, an extraordinarily powerful and historic piece!

Once part of the Middle Passage Museum inventory, these authentic and extraordinarily RARE child’s slave shackles have been de-accessioned. These plantation-made, iron, 19th century shackles were once used on a Georgia plantation. They remain all-original and untouched with sixteen small chain links. These RARE shackles measure a total of 20 inches in length and retain their original iron key, a find that is virtually un-heard of! A horrible, tangible testament to the malevolence of slavery.

Also currently offered for sale and priced separately are a second set of rarely found, Georgia, child's, slave shackles (no key with this set) that is featured in the last photo. An additional set of ADULT shackles is also available. Please type the word "shackles" in the search box on our home page to find all 3 sets of shackles currently offered for sale.

The Middle Passage Museum was the dream of Jim and Mary Anne Petty of Mississippi as well as that of an anonymous Georgian benefactor who had together compiled a collection of slave artifacts numbering over 15,000 pieces and who had hoped to find a permanent site in Mobile, Alabama, for their museum. While they formed a non-profit organization to raise funds for their hoped-for museum, their dream was never realized.

In a 2003 statement, Jim Petty remarked, "The importance of the exhibit of these artifacts is to understand the harshness of what slavery and segregation was all about. The items in the exhibit remind us of the terrible heinousness of slavery. Viewing the collection can be very emotional, but it is a tool through which we can understand, honor and respect a great culture. We want to realize that out of slavery, a great culture emerged, and carried on, and continued to strive for a better life regardless of the adverse conditions that were placed upon them."

Those who are ardent collectors of the famed Florence Upton creation - the Golliwogg - recognize this 19th century, first edition, children's book as an extraordinarily RARE find indeed, very seldom available for purchase in today's market!

"The Golliwogg's Bicycle Club", published in 1896 by Longmans, Green & Co, London & New York, was illustrated by Florence K. Upton, with story written by her mother, Bertha. This book was the 2nd Golliwogg adventure in a series of thirteen Golliwogg adventures by Upton, with the last published in 1909-- all of which are incredibly difficult to find today.

This hard cover book, measuring 8.75 inches high x 11.5 inches long, is a total of 63 pages in length. The book is lavishly illustrated with 30 full-color illustrations and tells the story of Golly's world travels. Golly and his friends, suffering from boredom, create their very own bicycles out of tree-wood and then partake of marvelous adventures in Paris, Japan, Turkey and Africa!

The Golliwog, itself, was based on a Black minstrel doll that Florence Kate Upton, born in 1873 of English parents, had played with as a small child in New York. Upton's Golliwog character was first introduced to the world in her 1895 book entitled The Adventures of Two Dutch Dolls. Like the rag doll that inspired it, the Golliwog in her book was a less-than-handsome creature with very dark, jet black skin, large white-rimmed eyes, red clown lips, and wild, frizzy hair. Golliwogs are typically male and are generally dressed in a jacket, trousers, bow tie, and stand-up collar in a combination of red, white, blue, black, and occasionally yellow colors.

The book is in very fine but not perfect condition-- not surprising given the book's 114 years of age! Wear to hard-board-cover edges. Binding remains strong, but thread stitching securing pages to binding has weakened with the two, center-most pages separated from the others. Evidence of tape repair on these loosened pages present. Book is complete, with no missing pages.

Truly a fabulous find! The first time I have EVER had the pleasure of offering this wonderfully-rare children's book in my 26 years of dealing in Black Memorabilia!!

Offered is an extremely RARE 1861 Slavery Manumission document from Norfolk, Virginia, executed for A. A. (Alexander Augustus) Cowdery and referencing his slave, George Danley.

Measuring approximately 10 inches long x 8 inches wide, this extraordinary and historical document is handwritten and was executed on April 29, 1861, just 12 days after Virginia chose to secede from the Union on April 17, 1861.

The document is in excellent condition save the fold marks; this document clearly has been stored in this folded state for the past 153 years. It is suitable and ready for archival preservation- appropriate acid-free backing and matting materials with framing. In the upper left hand corner, the local stationery store's embossed imprint is visible and reads: “S & P Lawrence Superfine”.

The text of the document is as follows:

“Know all men by these presents, that A A Cowdery, of the city of Norfolk, for and in consideration of the faithful services of my negro man George Danley, do hereby emancipate and set free the said negro man George Danley and absolve him from all claim to my service; and for the consideration aforesaid hereby warrant unto him his freedom against the claim of myself and of all persons whomsoever to witness my hand and seal at the city of Norfolk, this 29th day of April 1861.”
A A Cowdery (SEAL)

“City of Norfolk, to wit
Simon S. Stubbs (sp?) a Notary Public in the city aforesaid in the state of Virginia hereby certify, that A.A. Cowdery, whose name is signed to the writing above (?) bearing (?) date on the 29th day of April 1861, has acknowledged the same before me in the city aforesaid. Given under my hand this 29th day of April 1861.”
Simon. S. Stubbs
Notary Public

Truly an extraordinarily rare piece of historical ephemera documenting a tiny light shining within a very dark period in American history. If only the circumstances and "story" surrounding the execution of this document were known today!

Some relevant family history that was very kindly provided by extant Cowdery-Taylor family ancestors:
Alexander Augustus Cowdery was born May 11, 1817, in Norfolk, Virginia, the son of Jonathan Cowdery of Sandisfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and Elizabeth Reddick of White Haven, England. Jonathan Cowdery was a career physician surgeon in the United States Navy, serving until his death in 1852.

Alexander Augustus Cowdery was uncle to Walter Herron Taylor, who served as Lieutenant Colonel in the Confederate Army as Aide-de-Camp and then Adjutant-General under General Robert E. Lee, becoming one of Lee's most trusted aides and an intimate friend. Taylor later authored two works documenting his wartime experiences: "Four Years With General Lee" and "General Lee, His Campaigns in Virginia, 1861-1865".

Offered is an 1809, Augusta, Georgia, slave document - a Bill of Sale between John Woolfolk of Edgefield District, South Carolina, to Thomas Cumming of Augusta for a total of three slaves, all of whom were related: an adult woman named Judy, who was a seamstress, and her two children, Eliza and Edward.

This document is quite unusual in that it was generally atypical that slave families were permitted to remain together when a slave sale was conducted, regardless of the age of any children involved.

The single page, 15.5" wide x 19" long document was folded in half by its author, and the bill of sale is written out on one side of the folded page (see photos). The folded page was then flipped over, folded into thirds, and the title of the document was written out: "Bill of Sale John Woolfolk, Edgefield District. S.C. (South Carolina) for Judy- a Seamstress Edward (and) Eliza her children".

The text of the Bill of Sale reads as follows, First Paragraph:
"Augusta the 8th June 1809, Received from Thomas Cumming, Six hundred Dollars, being the consideration money infull for the following negro slaves sold and delivered to him this day. Judy a woman of about 21 years old Edward a Boy of about three years old and an infant female, named Eliza, Both Children of the said Woman Judy, which Said three negroes, Judy, Edward and Eliza, I do hereby warrant and defend against the claims of all persons whomsoever"

Second Paragraph:
"Given under my hand and seal the day and date first above written."
"John Woolfolk"

Condition of this slavery document is quite remarkable given its 213 years of age! Expected age-related discoloration of paper and slight (approx 3/4 inch)paper split at one end of one fold only. (see photos)

Offered is an extraordinarily rare, 1787, Fairfield, Connecticut, Bill of Sale for five SLAVES owned by Ephraim Willard of Fairfield, sold in November 1787 to two brothers, Ebenezer Whiting of Savannah, Georgia, and Bradford Whiting of Fairfield, Connecticut. The two Whiting brothers then resold these five slaves three months later in February 1788, to Thomas Cumming of Savannah, Georgia.

Also included with the 1787 Bill of Sale are three other Cumming's family documents, two measuring approximately 2"L x 8" W, and one 14"L x 8"W (see photos for condition). They are: an 1815 Receipt from Thomas Cumming to Richmond County, GA, for a $25 payment in taxes; a Dec 8, 1848, Receipt from Henry Cumming of Augusta, GA, a son of Thomas Cumming and a very prominent figure in 19th century Georgia politics, to George W. Crawford, Agent of the Bank of Augusta and Henry's law practice partner, a promise to pay on "the first day of January, 1849,"..."one hundred and three dollars for value received in house rent"; a 28 page 1812 Land Dispute document, Superior Court of Chatham County, GA, executed by Thomas Cumming btwn J. Knowle Fanning and the Joseph Clay Sr estate (Thomas Cumming's father-in-law).

The 1787 Bill of Sale is a single page, 7.5" wide x 12" long document, with text written on both sides of the document. Condition is quite remarkable given its 235 years of age!(see photos) Expected age-related discoloration of paper and some very slight paper loss in center of document ONLY noticeable when doc is held up to light.

The text of the 1787 document reads as follows, Paragraph one:
“Know all Men by these Presents that Ephraim Willard of Fairfield and State of Connecticut for and in Consideration of one Hundred and Sixty Eight Pounds Lawful Money Rec. (Received) to my full Satisfaction Of Eben,, (the double comma “,,”representing an abbreviation for Ebenezer) Whiting of Savannah of the State of Georgia & Bradford Whiting of Fairfield and the State of Connecticut do give, grant, bargain sell & Deliver unto them the said Eben,, Whiting and Bradford Whiting One Negro Man Named Peter Aged about Twenty one Years old, and his Wife Named Cate about Twenty Six years old, and her Two Children one a Girl about Five Years old, and the other a Boy about Eighteen Months old, and one other Negro Woman Named Vilot about Twenty One Years old.”

“To have and to hold the above granted the Bargainer Premises with the appurtenant thereof unto them the Said Eben,, & Bradford Whiting their Theirs Executors And Administrators and the Said Ephraim Willard do for myself my heirs Executors and Administrators Covenant with the Said Eben,, & Bradford Whiting their heirs Executors and Administrators that I am Now the Soul and Lawful Owner of the above Granted and Bargained Premises, and That I have said Right to Sell the Same as aforesaid, and that the same are free of all Incumbrances whatsoever -and I do by these Presents bind myself my Heirs Executors and administrators and assign forever against all claims and Demands whatsoever in Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal in Fairfield this Twenty first Day of Nov,, (November) in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Seven~ Ephraim Willard”
(Witnesses?)
Jonathan Mattbig
Ebenezer Dimon

“Savannah, February 23 1788. I have Sold the five Negroes, mentioned in this Bill of Sale to Thomas Cumming of Savannah, for which I have received a consideration to my satisfaction~”
Ebenezer Whiting
Bradford Whiting

A bit of History-
Slavery in Connecticut:Connecticut, in 1848, was the last New England state to abolish slavery. The state's city of New London was one of the New England port cities that was an integral trading partner in what is generally referred to as “The Triangle Trade”- between New England, the West Indies, and the African Gold Coast. In this triangular trade, molasses produced in the West Indies from sugar cane was sent to New England, New England sent rum made from this molasses to Africa in exchange for enslaved people, and the enslaved were sent to the West Indies to work the sugar cane plantations that produced the molasses, maintaining the prosperity of the northern colonies through the 18th century and into the 19th.

Thomas Cumming: Thomas Cumming, to whom the above five slaves were sold in Savannah, Georgia, in 1788, was born in Frederick, Maryland, having moved to Georgia as an adult. In 1787, the year before this purchase, he married Ann Clay, the daughter of Joseph Clay, a wealthy owner of multiple Savannah-area rice plantations. It is hypothesized that Thomas purchased these slaves in conjunction with or for his father-in-law. At some point in the 1790s, he moved his wife and children to Augusta, and served as Augusta’s first mayor upon its incorporation in 1798. From 1819 until his death at age 68 in 1834, Thomas Cumming was President of the Bank of Augusta.