$1,195.00
The single page, 16" x 25" document was folded in half by its author, and the charge is written out on one side of the folded page (see photos). The folded page was then flipped over, folded into fourths, and the title of the charge was written out: "Warrant of Slave girl Ally Crime of Murder "Tho. Roney (?)Pros(?)".
The text of the charge reads as follows, Paragraph one:
"Georgia Warren County"
"Before me Elisha Burson as Justice of the peace for Said County personally came before me Thomas Roney who being duly Sworn Saith that, he had Just reason to believe and verify doth believed that a negro girl by the name of Ally, hired by, and in the possession of Said Thomas, and the property of Nancy Mayhamry, did on Sunday afternoon twelfth last in Said County in Sweetwater Creek, feloniously and willfully drown two of his children, to wit, two daughters, one ten years old, the other seven years old - Sworn and Subscribed to before me May 30th, 1844" - (signed) Elisha C Burson J.P. (signed) Tho. Roney
Paragraph Two:
"Georgia Warren County"
"To any lawful officer to execute and return - Whereas Thomas Roney hath this day made complaint before me on oath, that he hath just reason to believe and verify doth believed that a negro girl by the name of Ally, hired by, and in the possession of Said Thomas, and the property of Mary Mayhamry, did on Sunday afternoon twelfth last- in Said County in Sweetwater creek, feloniously and willfully drown two of his children, to wit, two daughters one ten years old, the other Seven years old - This was therefore to command you, to apprehend this Said negro girl Ally, and bring her before me that she may be dealt with as the law directs - here of fail not - - - In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal, May 30th, 1844" - - - (signed) Elisha C Burson J.P. S.S.--(the S.S. encircled perhaps to signify his Seal)
Condition of this very, very unique slavery document is quite fine given its 178 years of age. Expected aging of paper with insignificant and minor tears at creases and tiny areas of soiling. (see photos)
Truly an extraordinarily rare historical document that defines a specific slave-related incident.
One has to wonder what became of Ally? Was she ever caught? If so, she was likely put to death. But was she innocent or guilty? Because she was a slave, it, heinously, did not matter as she would be allowed no voice...
$975.00
The single page, 16" x 25" document was folded in half by its author, and the charge is written out on one side of the folded page and then completed on the back of the same side of the page (see photos). The folded page was then flipped over, folded into fourths, and the title of the charge was written out: "The State VS Henry Negro Boy Slave".
The text of the charge reads as follows, Paragraph one:
"Georgia Warren County"
"Before me Matthew Sheilds a justice of the peace for said county, personally came Stephen Blount who being duly sworn deposeth and sayeth that according to the best of his knowledge and belief Henry a negro boy slave the property of the estate of Hardy Pitts late of said county deceased, did commit a violent assault and battery with intent to kill Deponent, with a heavy stick - and Deponent believes said stick was ferreled (an action suggestive of a wild beast)- upon the person of Deponent - on this night of the thirteenth of this Instant in said county of Warren to wit upon the plantation of Thomas Persons, near Warrenton.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th March 1842."
"Matthew Sheilds JP"
"Stephen Blount"
Paragraph two:
"Georgia Warren County"
"By Matthew Sheilds one of the Justices To Sheriff the Constables of Said County and to all other lawful officers for as much as Stephen Blount who being duly sworn deposeth and sayeth that according to the best of his knowledge and belief Henry a Negro boy Slave the property of the estate of Hardy Pitts late of Said County deceased did commit a violent assault and battery with intent to kill Deponent - with a heavy stick and Deponent believes said stick was ferreled upon the person of Deponent on the night of the thirteenth of this Instant...." (continued next page)
Next Page:
"in Said County of Warren to wit on the plantation of Thomas Persons near Warrenton. These are therefore to Command you that you apprehend the Said Negro Boy Henry and bring him before me or some other Justice of the peace of Said County to Answer the said charge and to be further dealt with according to Law Herein fail not. Given under my hand and Seal this 14th day of March 1842."
"Matthew Sheilds JP" (JP written a second time and encircled in a squiggle to simulate a wax seal)
Condition of this very unique slavery document is quite fine given its 180 years of age. Expected aging of paper with insignificant and minor tears at creases. Also present are three long spillages of ink (as seen in photos) which likely occurred at the time this document was written out with, obviously, no intention of the author to start over again and rewrite!
An extraordinarily rare historical document that defines a specific slave-related incident.
$275.00
This diminutive tin case is painted black with gold accenting and gold lettering present on the front of the case. The black paint shows reasonable wear given its 130+ years of age with the majority of wear evident along seam lines and at the base. The gold painting on the front of the case remains quite nice with very small areas of unobtrusive paint loss present (please see all photos). This tin case was clearly well cared for over the years.
The case contains three, pull-out, tin drawers with tiny, circular, loop pulls at the ends, that when slid out, reveal 15 separate compartments designed to hold the corked, glass, sample bottles. Fourteen bottles remain present, all of which are original to the case. The bottles advertise the spices and perfume waters that the Loverin and Browne Company manufactured for wholesale purchase by various independent groceries. The base of each bottle sits on a spring which would have facilitated secure storage during travel.
An interesting addition to one's advertisement collection! Very easy to display with great visual appeal!
$135.00
This solid, 1/8" thick bell gives its ring the classic resonance one would expect to hear in a 19th century bell - a sound that would carry a good distance announcing the start of the school day!
The top of the bell features a decorative 3 rimmed edging. The bell retains its original black-painted wooden handle, and iron clacker and loop. A very tiny 1/16th" superficial edge chip exists - the bell must have hit a very hard surface to create that! (see close-up photo)
A lovely 19th century example of a teacher's school bell, sadly being de-accessioned from my own collection due to lack of display space!
SOLD
The products for which these die cuts were meant to endorse is unknown. The die cuts feature an embossed, glossy finish which compliments the beautiful detailing and intense coloring of each piece. This grouping would look fabulous framed!
Approximate measurements are as follows:
6 Musicians: 6.6" tall x 3.50" wide
Please note that any white specks that seem prominent in the closeup photos are the result of light bouncing off the surfaces of the aged die cuts. These pieces are approximately 140 years old, and while in very good condition given their age, tiny surface imperfections may be evident here and there.
The photo of the verso of all 6 figures reveals that only the violinist has received some restoration- a single piece of archival tape reinforcing a crease.
This entire grouping of die cuts is being sold as one single offering at $45.00.
$125.00
Text indicates that the diploma was awarded to Mary L. Downey on January 15, 1892, and certified her to teach the Grammar or Primary Grade for the subsequent 6 years. Signed by 5 members of the California State Board of Education.
Further documentation on reverse reads, "Issued on the recommendation of the Board of Education of San Francisco, in accordance with Section 1521 of the Political Code, upon a first grade or Grammar Grade Certificate of San Francisco, 86.7% (Mary’s teacher examination grade).”
With the exception of early fold lines, condition is mint! Measures 8 inches X 10.5 inches.
See my other items for an 1899 Teaching Certificate awarded to Mary's sister, Josephine Downey!
A wonderful piece of museum-quality, educational ephemera representing San Francisco's and the state of California's early educational history!
$145.00
This nearly-lost historical work was originally published in 1892 exclusively for the subscription market and was entitled, "Samantha on the Race Problem". Two years later when the work was to be sold on the "popular" market, the publishers, Dodd, Mead and Company, New York, deemed it appropriate to re-title the work, "Samantha Among the Colored Folk", including the subtitle, "My ideas on the Race Problem" on the title page only. Interestingly, this re-titled, 1894, popular market edition still retains the title, "Samantha on the Race Problem" at the top of each of its 387 pages! This is truly a fascinating read, particularly for those who have a keen interest in this tumultuous period of American history.
The author, Marietta Holley of New York, born in 1836, was an American humorist who employed satire to comment on American society and politics. Early in her career, she published not as Marietta Holley, but as "Josiah Allen's Wife", sometimes with her own name also added in parentheses beneath his, as is the case in this particular edition. Interestingly, Marietta was never married, and Josiah Allen never existed. She eventually published under her own name enjoying a prolific writing career and becoming a bestselling author by the turn of the 20th century, although, sadly, she was largely forgotten by the time of her death in 1926.
Illustrated by Edward Windsor Kemble, this work contains over eighty of his pen and ink drawings. Each drawing is titled and a listing of all illustrations can be found at the beginning of the book. Kemble, who enjoyed a prolific career as a political cartoonist for a variety of the top US newspapers and periodicals, was well-known for his caricatures of African Americans, and he illustrated for some of the most famous American writers of the day such as Mark Twain (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn), Harriet Beecher Stowe (Uncle Tom's Cabin") and Washington Irving (Knickerbocker History of New York).
Written in dialect, this nearly 130 year old book bears evidence of its many, many years. The cloth-bound hardcover is very well-worn along all edges with the cloth spine showing the worst of the wear: small tears at top and bottom with some very small areas of missing fabric. The binding is separating from the spine, but all 387 pages still remain bound and attached (some pages just barely - see photos) with the exception of page 109/110 (see photo) which is present, but for some reason, was cut with scissors from the book. A good number of pages have some degree of staining (see photos), there is foxing throughout, and a very teeny tear here and there. An inked ownership inscription exists on the inside front cover.
Having described its significantly aged condition, it must again be emphasized that this 1894, 2nd edition, is EXTREMELY rare, seldom found available for purchase on the retail marketplace.
"Samantha Among Colored Folks - My Ideas On The Race Problem" is a must-read for those interested in the author's perspective of the societal, political, racial and economic struggles which existed in the post-Civil War South.
$135.00
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" or "Life Among the Lowly", is an anti-slavery novel that was published in two volumes and which had a profound effect on attitudes toward African-Americans and slavery in the U.S. It is said to have "helped lay the groundwork for the American Civil War".
The plate depicts Uncle Tom seated in a horse-drawn wagon while heavy iron shackles are being clamped around each of his ankles. The text on the plate reads: "Uncle Tom packed up for the 'Down South' Market. Haley made fast a heavy pair of shackles to Tom's ankles".
Plates such as this were produced for use by children as subtle educational tools. England was well ahead of the United States in recognizing the moral evils of slavery, abolishing it in 1833.
The plate measures 8 1/2 inches in diameter and the interior is decorated with the black transfer-printed, Uncle Tom vignette. The rim is quite beautifully embossed with highly decorative swirls which encase two different flying birds- one clutching an olive branch in its beak and the other chasing after a butterfly.
The plate is of great interest due to its slavery-related subject matter and its high degree of rim decoration. Condition of the plate is fair to good due to the numerous edge flakes present along the rim and the two tiny ones within the transfer. The plate has a use-related age crack that is clearly visible on the backside of the plate and which is also partially visible on the front side. This crack is quite tight and does not pose any concern to the structural integrity of the plate.
Despite its age-related imperfections, this plate displays absolutely beautifully, and for those collectors who are interested in slavery-related artifacts, this would be a noteworthy and visually-appealing addition to one's collection.
This lovely and historic plate has been priced to reflect its blemishes.
$55.00
All 5 of these artistically-rendered awards were presented to the same student, Maria Royce, and signed by her teacher, Isabella F. McCormick, as well as two representatives of the school committee for "regular and punctual attendance with correct deportment and diligent attention to her studies." Maria obviously was educated in a one room school house given that she had the same teacher over a four year period.
The awards are dated May 1841, May 1842, March 18-- (year inadvertently omitted), June 1842, and January 1844.
The merit awards measure 8 inches wide x 10 inches long and are adorned at the top of the award with a well-executed black line etching of a teacher and her students viewing a large world globe with an elegant school house of formal architecture standing imposingly in the background-- and at the base of the award, a delicate and detailed floral wreath.
The awards are in fine condition with very minor wrinkling to the edges. May 1841 and March 18-- also have minor edge-area foxing that will not be visible once the award is matted and framed.
These early examples of school ephemera are quite rare and would be a fabulous addition to a vintage school memorabilia collection!
Priced $55 Each; please specify date of document you wish to purchase.
$425.00
Lettering is original and in very good condition except for some unobtrusive scuffing and loss. Please note that the lettering is bordered with black enhancement. There are 2 holes, one on each side which were originally used for mounting on the building exterior.
Will make a great addition to your collection.
$165.00
Measuring 13.25 inches wide x 9.25 inches high x 1 inch thick, this wonderful piece patented February 16, 1886, is in very fine condition with a warm, rich patina and color as well as all 56 of its original wooden letters! To spell a word, one slides the letters along cut out tracks in the board.
Quite visually appealing!
Condition: three of the 1/8th inch thick, round, wooden letters suffered partial breakage at one point in time, but these letters continue to remain quite structurally sound and "readable". Some tiny edge chips to the wood- quite reasonable given its age.
A seldom found vintage, early School House item!
$325.00
Condition of the litho is considered very good given the rich coloration that remains. Some minor wear does exist: 2 small tears measuring less than 1/2 inch each on either side border edge-- one in the trees on the right side and the other on the left side in the water. There are several teeny holes in the sky to the right of the bearded gentleman's fishing pole as well as one single hole in the black gentleman's hair. (Please see photos.) Some wear to the border at top as shown in photos.
Despite the noted imperfections, this lithograph displays beautifully, with rich color and crisp lines. It presently resides in an early 1920's frame; ideally from a conservation point of view, it would benefit from a re-framing with acid-free materials to continue to preserve its historic importance.
$45.00
This offering features two lovely die cuts- one, a well-to-do Victorian era husband and wife out for a stroll, and the second, a colorfully dressed musical trio playing banjo, concertina (small accordion) and tambourine. The musical trio remains connected- adding to its value- and uncut, number 7568.
The products for which these die cuts were meant to endorse is unknown. The litho features a very glossy finish, and the die cuts feature an embossed, glossy finish which compliments the beautiful detailing and intense coloring of each piece. Either would look fabulous framed- individually or as a grouping! Think gift!
Approximate measurements are as follows:
The Older Couple: 6" tall x 4.25" wide
The Musical Trio: 5" tall x 4.50" wide.
Priced each at $45.
Please note that any white specks that seem prominent in the closeup photos are the result of light bouncing off the surfaces of the aged die cuts. These pieces are approximately 140 years old, and while in very good condition given their age, tiny surface imperfections may be evident here and there.
The photo of the verso of the older couple reveal no restorations or repairs. The Trio of Musicians remain very loosely adhered to a piece of black construction paper so the verso cannot be viewed. (I leave removal to the buyer.) Inspection of the front side suggests no repair or restoration to this piece.
$125.00
Text indicates that the diploma was awarded to Josephine Downey on October 21, 1899, and certified her to teach the Grammar or Primary Grade for the subsequent 6 years. Signed by Thomas Kirsh, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Secretary.
Further documentation on reverse reads, "Issued on the recommendation of the Board of Education of San Francisco County, in accordance with Section 1521 of the Political Code, upon a first grade or Grammar Grade Certificate of San Francisco County, California, 95% (Josephine’s teacher examination grade).”
With the exception of early fold lines, condition is mint! Measures 14.6 inches X 11.5 inches.
See my other school certificates for an 1892 Teaching Certificate awarded to Josephine's sister, Mary Downey!
A wonderful piece of museum-quality, educational ephemera representing San Francisco's and the state of California's early educational history!
$35.00
The products which these advertisements were meant to endorse is unknown. The advertisements feature a high-shine, glossy finish which compliments the beautiful detailing and intense coloring of each piece. Both would look fabulous framed!
The advertisement featuring the strolling family measures approximately 7.25 inches wide x 10.25 inches long. The advertisement featuring the nine celebrators measures approximately 10.25 inches wide x 7.25 inches long.
Please note that any white specks that seem prominent in the closeup photos are the result of light bouncing off the surfaces of the aged advertisements. These pieces are approximately 140 years old, and while in very good condition given their age, both do have tiny surface imperfections, bend lines and light edge wear. The advertisement featuring the celebrators has significant edge wear and some paper loss along the horizontal top and bottom of the piece; however, with proper matting and framing, these imperfections can be easily and completely hidden.
The advertisements are PRICED EACH as follows: $35 for the family of five out for a stroll and $25 for the advertisement featuring the 9 celebrating and dancing folk.
$125.00
Offered are two school slates, both designed to support children's learning, either while in school or at home.
The C1870 school slate was commonly known as a book slate as it is constructed of two separate slates that are bound together on one side allowing the slates to open and close like a book. This construction also allows the bound slates to stand freely on a flat surface. Each slate measures 7" wide x 9' long, and are framed in wood with a decorative, thread bound leather edging that has been tacked into place around the perimeter. The two slates are joined together by a cloth binding. The condition of the slates are quite fine with no cracks, fractures or missing elements either to the slates' surfaces or to the framing. Traces of ancient writings and numerals are subtly visible. Double slates are much less common versus the single slate as doubles were not only more expensive to produce but also were more expensive to purchase!
The companion slate offered was produced by the well-known US child toy and game manufacturer, Transogram, circa early 1960s. This slate retains its original and quite visually-appealing box and is constructed of a masonite-type board-- with a smooth surface on the backside and a textured gray-colored surface on the front side. The slate is in very good condition and is imprinted with the alphabet and numerals 0-9 as well as a pair of stars and school bells on either side of its name: TRANSO-SLATE. The slate is advertised on the box cover as washable, and the set originally came with a little eraser and colored chalk. The eraser is no longer present and only remnants of colored and white chalk remain. The condition of the box is quite fine with only superficial wear to some of the cover edges. No rips or repairs. Imaging and printing on the box cover remain bright and intact. The box measures 8.25" wide x 6.25" long. The slate measures just a fraction smaller, fitting snugly inside of the box.
A wonderful pairing of 19th and mid-20th century educational tools!
$165.00
George Thompson’s missionary service to Africa occurs approximately 7 years after the MENDI natives of the AMISTAD were accompanied by missionaries on their return to Africa. He serves this very same mission, now in the of colony Sierra Leone, a colony which was established to serve as refuge for the liberated Africans taken from slave ships.
356 pages long, this journal provides a fascinating account of all aspects of the Mendi culture seen through the eyes, however biased in his mission to convert the Africans to Christianity, of a genuinely well-meaning gentleman of his time. Condition: complete, tight binding, foxing throughout, spine wear as shown in picture.
Thompson states, “It is hoped that the following narrative may, in the hands of GOD, awaken a desire in many hearts to go to Africa, for the purposes of preaching, teaching, farming, building houses, mills, manufactories, etc., and thus assist in making long despised and neglected AFRICA, what it is capable of becoming, THE GARDEN OF THE WORLD.”
$125.00
Text indicates that the certificate was awarded to Emma Shannon on June 12, 1885 (Or 1883--difficult to read as the date is partially concealed under the frame edge). The certificate recognizes that Emma excelled in Latin, Arithmetic, History of France, Rhetoric, and English Literature. Signed by W. P. Dickinson, President of the Faculty.
With the exception of early fold lines, a water stain in the upper left corner, and two small circular age stains on the lower left and within the word "distinction", condition is quite nice!
Measures 16.25 inches X 12.25 inches framed. The piece is framed in wood and is beautifully grain-painted in brown and black tones with delicate, cream-toned, chip-carved stems and leaves at each of the four corners. Original wood backing remains in place.
Once located at the intersection of 10th and Jefferson Streets in downtown Charlottesville, the Albemarle Female Institute was founded in 1853 as a University School for young women by Baptist pastor John A. Broadus. In 1861, one of Charlottesville's most famous 19th century women, Charlotte "Lottie" Moon, earned one of the first Master of Arts degrees ever awarded to a woman by a southern educational institution during this time period. Fluent in Latin, Greek, French, and Italian, Lottie was called to serve as a Baptist missionary in China, devoting 40 years of her life to that mission.