Offered is a rarely-found, COMPLETE set of the out-of-print, Austin, Texas, Black History, Let's Pretend series, Mae Dee and Her Family. All six books are First Editions and were published as part of the National History Series: USA, Delta Black Heritage Program, with all photographs courtesy of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Austin, Texas, Alumnae Chapter.

The titles, in their order of publication, are as follows;

1977, "Mae Dee and Her Family Go To Town"

1977, "Mae Dee and Her Family On A Weekend in May"

1978, "Mae Dee and Her Family join the Juneteenth Celebration"

1978, "Mae Dee and Her Family In the Merry, Merry Season"

1979, "Mae Dee and Her Family And the First Wedding of the Year"

1980, "Mae Dee and Her Family Ten Years Later".

As stated in the books' prefaces, "The six stories are based on historical and biographical facts about the lifestyle of an Austin, Texas, black family in the early 1900s. Mae Dee and her family existed although these stories about them are fictionalized. The organizations and institutions mentioned did exist and activities discussed did occur."

These rich and delightfully entertaining yet educational books are a fascinating look back in history to the African-American experience in turn-of-the-century Austin, Texas.

The books are profusely illustrated with numerous period photographs as well as fabulous black line ink drawings rendered by Sarochin Shannon.

Published by The Stevenson Press, Austin, Texas, 1977-1980. Excellent, unused condition; hard cover book only has some very light soiling to front and back covers which likely can be cleaned off. No dust jackets. Bindings: five books are soft cover; one is hard cover. 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Books range from 63 to 166 pages in length.

The folder was mailed, but remains in fine condition given its age. Some edge wear evident at corners. While some photos may appear a bit blurry, this is a function of photography and not condition. All postcards are crisp and clear!

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.

Fabulous colored and black and white illustrations as represented by photos adorn this 26 page book! The book features the adventures of a little Southern boy who lives with his gran'mammy and gran'daddy in a log cabin set down in a cotton field.

Interior pages are in very nice condition with some light soiling here and there. The pages are tightly bound together, however the tightly bound pages are 3/4ths separated from the front and back covers. The hard bound cloth covers are in fine condition, with wear to cover spine edges and book corners typical of a book of its age. An early owner's name is inscribed in ink on the interior front cover. Stamped on the interior of the back cover is the original 1938 selling price of 60 cents!

Measuring just a tiny 1.75 inches in length and depth, by an even tinier 1.50 inches in height, this phenomenal and functional C1920's piece depicts a black Nubian man or Blackamoor who is perched on a large box with arms raised in surprise. The detailed features of this tiny sculpture are quite impressive!

The actual red cloth tape measure does extend and contract, although given the age, rarity, and delicacy of the piece, it is not recommended that one extend the tape to its limits. A delicate tap of the finger to the side of the box containing the tape measure is sometimes required to assist in the mechanical retracting of the tape.

The celluloid is in marvelous, all-original condition, and the original coloring remains intact with the exception of the teeniest paint-wear to the tips of the Blackamoor's toes and a speck on his forehead (both quite difficult to see when not being viewed through a camera's close-up lens)! No maker's mark.

Measuring just 6 ½ inches tall with a skirt circumference of 4 ½ inches, her head, torso, and arms are constructed of fabric with an inverted basket serving as her skirt. Her clothing is machine-stitched with attention paid to detail: teeny gold fabric braiding serves as earrings and necklace; delicate lace accents her skirt hem; her red shawl features zig zag stitching accents; her face is finely hand-painted.

Her interesting face is completely hand-stitched and bears a tiny hole in the center of her chin. A similar teeny hole may also be seen (see photo) on her back. Mammy wears a lacy bonnet detailed with tiny pleats and 2 ribbon flowers. Her pink skirt and blouse, also hand-stitched, present in various shades of pink as Mammy's outfit has been subjected to light over the years and is in places, quite faded. Although now clean, Mammy's clothing is speckled here and there with teeny dark pinpoint size spots, most particularly in the bust area. Her white apron is pristine and is accented with a small, non-functional pocket. Her lace bonnet is fragile and must be handled with care as it can tear easily.

Although her bottle frame is covered by a black stocking, the stocking has opened slightly under her skirt revealing her sand-filled milk bottle.

The signs are quite heavy as each is made from a solid wood board. The signs are nearly identical in size and measure approximately 25 1/2 inches wide x 14 5/8 high x 3/4ths of an inch thick. One of the signs has very, very slight warping, but the warpage is not readily evident as seen by pictures. Each sign has 2 holes from which to hang them, and the old rusted hanging wire which is seen in the photos has been replaced by new hanging wire.