Amercana/Slavery

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Our Next Historic Auction is September 2010

Amercana/Slavery

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(PENOBSCOT INDIANS) $225.00
49256-1
Manuscript document, 1p. 4to., Boston, Aug. 29, 1797, a receipt for "...Two hundred Bushels Indian Corn Seventy five Yards Blue Broad Cloth Two hundred w[it]h Shott [sic] and Fifty pounds Muskett [sic] Powner, which I promis[e] to Deliver to the Indians at Penobscott it being the Ballance [sic] of Goods due them for the Year 1797 as per Resolve fo the [General] Court of Feby 11, 1797...Deliver it to Amasa Davis Q. M. Genl. the Danger of the Sea Always Excepted..." Provenance: Paul Hoag, 1952; Collection of Henry Luhrs. Toned from tape repairs on verso, partial separation at folds, light foxing, else very good.

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY MOURNS WILBERFORCE $150.00
50489-1
Unique document, 1p., 4to., London, [May, 1834?], a hand-written contemporary copy of a speech given at a meeting of the London Missionary Society to commemorate the passing of William Wilberforce. The speech, delivered by "Thomas Burton", recounted Wilberforce's plea before death that slavery would be repealed in England, and the subsequent passing of that very legislation shortly after. Lot includes an inlaid print of an engraving of an African or West Indian man holding a book and dressed in the English finery of the day, possibly Toussaint L'Ouverture. Age toned with additional pink hue, minor foxing, with an unfortunate doodle of black ink to the right of the print.

AERIAL VIEW OF FORT HUACHUCA $150.00
51702-1
Original photograph, 10" x 8" sepia, an aerial view of Fort Huachuca, Arizona Territory ca. 1900, showing several lines of similar structures, and what appear to be barracks with a headquarters structure at the far end. A bit light, with two tiny ink smudges, else very good. On March 3, 1877, Capt. Samuel Marmaduke Whitside, accompanied by two Troops (Companies) of the 6th Cavalry, chose a site this fort at the base of the Huachuca Mountains that offered sheltering hills and a perennial stream. After the surrender of Geronimo in 1886, the Apache threat was essentially extinguished, but Fort Huachuca was kept open because of its strategic border position. The base was home to the "Buffalo Soldiers" of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment for twenty years. It was used as a forward logistics and supply base during the Pancho Villa Expedition of 1916-1917.

DU PONCEAU, PETER S. $70.00
49226-1
(1760 - 1844) French linguist and philosopher, aide to von Steuben, joined the American Philosophical Society in 1791 and served as its president of it from 1827 until his death, fams for his analysis of Indigenous languages of the American Indians.Scarce A.E.S. on the verso of a partly-printed promissory note, 4pp. Legal folio, Philadelphia, July 16, 1808, endorsed by him on verso: "I have received of John D. Coxe, Esq. the the whole of the principal & interest due on the Bond. Philad'a 7 March 1814" Boldly signd. Seal tear causes slight loss not affecting endorsement, else very good.

(TEXAS SLAVE DISPUTE) $120.00
60078-22
Scarce content retained copy of an A.D.S, 1p., 4to., Fayette County, Texas, Oct. 28, 1850, a legal decision in the dispute of Isaac Hill vs. Stephen Townsend over ownership of two slaves. In part: "...two certain negroes, to wit, Lucy 25 years old, and Ben 5 years old, which property is claimed by the plaintiff Townsend in said Suit-- Now if the above bound Isaac L Hill does not send said Negroes or any of them out of the limits of this State, or if he does not make any improper use of said negroes... this obligation to be null and void, otherwise to remain in full force and effect...". Hill, a veteran of the battle of San Jacinto and resident of Fayette County since 1845, became a prosperous planter and slave owner. Fine. Texas slave material is rare!

(AZTEC LAND AND CATTLE COMPANY) $180.00
60078-37
Fine content A.L.S. "Henry Kinsley", 1p., 4to, Holbrook, July 14, 1890, a letter to his uncle, Edward Kinsley, a major investor in the ranching concern. Edward Kinsley, a Boston lawyer and figure in the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, took advantage of an offer from the railroad to buy a million acres of grazing land for fifty cents an acre, and formed the corporation in 1884 to do so. Kinsley, his nephew, and others purchased 33,000 head of cattle and a swath of grassland stretching 650 miles from New Mexico to Flagstaff, headquartered in Holbrook, and bought the Hashknife cattle brand, so named for its likeness to a utensil used by chuck wagon cooks. Kinsley brought the cattle, the cattle brought the Hashknife cowpunchers, and the punchers brought big trouble to the little Arizona town. Although only the country's third-largest ranching operation, the Hashknife quickly earned a reputation for primacy in thieving, rustling, brawling, and outright gun fighting. In 1886, the 250-soul town recorded 26 shooting deaths. The Salvation Army even made the area a prime target for charity and evangelizing, to no avail. Only a severe blizzard in 1899 that killed thousands of Aztec cattle and forced the company to liquidate would bring peace back to Holbrook. He writes, in part: "...It will please the boys out here to read it for they are always asking where old man Kinsley is, and when he will come out again. They say you are a rail road man from way back and no flies on you - you bet. Mr. Robinson is in Albuquerque and writes that he will not be able to go to the coast this month, so now I am in doubt whether to wait or go on, for I hate to go alone...". Very fine, with transmittal cover canceled in Holbrook with Aztec Land and Cattle Company printed return address.

WILLIAM CLARK $2,250.00
60113-7
(1770 - 1838) American soldier and explorer in frontier service under Gen. Anthony Wayne against Indians, and who later joined Capt. Meriwether Lewis in leading their famous expedition to explore the Louisiana Purchase find a route to the Pacific Ocean. A.D.S. as Governor and Brigadier General, 1p., oblong 8vo., [St. Louis], April 28, 1814. Clark authorizes a total of 132 rations for 88 men, in part: "...Provision Return for Eighty eight men of Capt Yeiser's Company now in the service of the United States for one day commencing the 28 April & ending same day... the Contractor will issue one hundred & thirty two Complete Rations agreeable to the above return...". Boldly signed, "Wm Clark". Clark and Zachary Taylor organized an expedition secured on their own private funds to attack the British fort at the strategic Prairie du Chein, first putting oars in the Mississippi River on May 1, 1814. Clark succeeded in wresting the area from the British on June 2, beginning construction on Fort Shelby in that location. Minor folds and slight age toning, else fine.

CHARLES D. FREDERICKS PHOTOGRAPHY ARCHIVE $11,000.00
18229-1
A most important and historic archive of over 150 letters and images concerning the wide-ranging photographic business operation of CHARLES D. FREDERICKS (1823-1894). Fredericks was an American pioneer photographer in direct competition with Matthew Brady, Gurney and Tomlinson, and indeed his New York gallery was often described as far superior to those of his contemporaries. In fact, he is credited with the invention of the carte de visite and the mammoth photograph. The archive we offer is largely centered upon the Civil War years, and gives a rare view of how the infant industry was conducted at that time. Of particular importance are the letters of HENRY AVERY, Fredericks' partner and assistant in the field, as well as letters from Fredericks and his assistants to MATTHEW BRADY, several with autograph notes signed by Brady with initial "B" at bottom. The single A.L.S. from Fredericks to Brady is 1p. 4to., written from New York, Apr. 2, 1866 concer ning an apparent dispute between the two over a $200 debt. At the bottom, Brady has penciled five lines of notes concerning the debt, then adds in ink: "The above Account - in pencil - was made on receipt of this letter. B". Another letter, 4pp. 8vo., New York, Nov. 25 [1864?] was written to Brady by Elijah Cook, Frederick's nephew, strangely discussing business and mentioning the delivery of $200 to his aunt. At top, Brady writes: "You will notice by the words underlined that the money was to have been handed to Mrs. Fredericks - that is why I sent it to him instead of Mrs. Frederick. B". Pinned to this letter is an A.N. (unsigned) by Brady: "You will notice his erasure - where he first wrote 'sent to' my aunt & afterward written 'given to' my aunt by me". Another letter from Cook, also discussing the debt, bears Brady's docket on verso: "E L Cook May 18, 1865". Also included are about 25 A.L.S.'s of HENRY AVERY to Fredericks, totally about 80pp. 4to., New York, Nov. 31, 1864 to May 10, 1865 giving his partner in Havana updates on their business. In very small part: "...I have made our Card Photographs of Celebrities at $10 per hundred and sales immediately came up almost double...I will share with you equally...all losses by Pirates...endeavoring to get up an excitement...in the Porcelain and Double Card picture...I have exhausted all the money we have...I do not feel much encouraged...2,000 more albums, every one of which is sold...made arrangements for Malmedy Paper...our sales in albums average nightly from $15 to $40...if our business is not managed close we shall have losses...the state of the Country, chances of the closing of the war, and a general panic in perspective causes great caution in all the channels of business...we are not making much of anything...The South cannot fight any long fights...their ports are closed...it is hard kicking against the pricks...cards are decreasing with us but large works are increasing...the murder of Lincoln has completely checked all business...we have no life negatives except of Booth...we were the only parties who had any life pictures...", and so on. There is an incredible amount of financial news and business expenses concerning their New York, Paris and Havana galleries, all tempered by Avery's pessimism and some accusation by Fredericks of malfeasance or at least squandering of the firm's cash. Also included are more than 60 A.L.S.'s to Fredericks from his wife Louise, all more than 4pp., 8vo., written from their home in New Jersey and setting forth family news, with allusions to her husband's trysts and the family's lack of funds; about 15 letters and documents from his bankers concerning financial matters, with three checks signed by Fredericks; a small group of letters from his sister; 13 lengthy letters from his managers Augusto Daires in Havana and a Mr. Penabert in Paris, about 40pp. total, most penned in 1865, business-related matters, and so on. Additionally there are a number of photographs included in the lot, notably two cased images, the first a 2 3/4" x 3" daguerreotype by Fredericks, possibly a bust self-portrait, a similar sized tintype of an ornately dressed lady, also by Fredericks, and 17 cartes-de-visite, including full-length images of Fredericks and his wife Louise, Gen. Tom Thumb and wife, Lincoln (a bit faded, trimmed at edges), Horace Greeley, with the balance unidentified. Finally, there is a blue and white striped sleeve, closed at one end, 10" x 6", likely used to handle wet plates or negatives. This fascinating and informative archive, with the exceedingly rare signed notes by Brady, is in overall very good to fine condition. Should be viewed!

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