Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 30

Manuscript and Collectibles Auction

Slavery/Black History

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 1170		1777 Quaker Slave Manumission. Partly-printed document executed by Sarah Yeardley, a Quaker widow who lived in Lower Makefield, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, dated "this twenty eighth day of the first month [March was the first month for Quakers]…1777, 6 x 7 in. "I…do hereby set free from bondage, my Negroe Man named Thomas Farmer aged about Sixty years, and do…release…all claim whatsoever as to his person…." Mrs. Yeardley signed before two witnesses. Lightly toned overall with scattered foxing. The Quakers were the first religious group to declare that slavery was wrong and to demand that their members free their slaves. A rare Revolutionary War-date slave manumission. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,725
Lot 1171		1818 Letter Insuring A Cargo of Slaves. A 3-page letter written by William Forsyth, Mataurus, Oct. 28, 1818, to the Baltimore firm of Karricks & Harper regarding the conclusion of a contract for the exclusive use of a mud machine on his property that fronts the Bay. After giving detailed instructions about the machine, Forsythe informs the firm that he is enclosing a copy of a letter to him (not present) from Captain Macomb ordering insurance for the captain's one eighth interest ($3,500) in the Spanish brig Grand Labarin, "bound from the Coast of Africa for a cargo of slaves….this vessel…has been altered into an Hermaphrodite Brig…Capt Macomb is a most active Navigator he commanded the Antonia the two voyages preceeding her capture. It is considered the risk will not be increased by such a vessell as the Grand Labarin to going to the North of the line…" Fine. Beginning January 1, 1808, the importation of slaves from Africa into the U.S. was illegal, but the law was widely ignored. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1172		1868 Alabama Letter Recounting Early Ku Klux Klan Activity. Four-page letter from Dan Price, Livingston, Sumter Co., Alabama, Dec. 211, 1968, to Congressman C.W. Pierce in Washington City (addressed as "Major"), informing him of the latest depradations of the Klan, "For fear you might think your District was all quiet and that the election of Grant had caused the Ku Klux to subside….the 5th Decr a ban of Ku Klux went to the house of Dr. Choutteau a true Radical…and fired at the Dr several times…." The doctor and his family left their home, leaving his mother-in-law and one small boy there. Two days later, the KK came back and broke into the house, cursing and abusing the old lady, "calling her a d---d old Radical Bitch" and "beating two negroes (man and wife) in a horrible manner…." They burned the doctor's house and office down and said that "they the Democrats intend to and will rule Ala., Congress and the laws to the contrary notwithstanding." The local newspaper reported that the doctor probably burned his own house "to get a bad name for his neighborhood." Gid. Harris, who "was always sick when a fight was going on while he was in Jeff Davis' army," declared that his party would "control this country if they have to wade in blood to their chins…." Price asks for help for the doctor, who "has sustained serious loss on account of his devotion to the Union…." More interesting content. Toning to top half of first page, and edge splits at folds, else very good. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1173		A Runaway Slave Is Hunted By "Negroe Dogs". A two-page letter dated October 18, 1850 from a man named Lauren Smith in Wheeling, Missisisippi, to his brother in Humphreysville, Connecticut.; 9¾ x 7¾ in., with integral address leaf. In part: "…I have swaped my land for a runaway Negro…a woman…sold two years ago for six hundred thirty five Dollars….She had been runaway ten days and had been hunted for a week with a full pack of Negroe Dogs but could not be caught in twenty four hours after I bought her….I have had her about six months and she has not attempted to runaway. I could give her twelve hours the start and catch her in six hours with my Dogs and she knows it would be of know use to try it. She is a first rate Negro to work but like all Negroes she needs a little buckskin now and then…." This is the first letter we have seen about dogs being used to track runaway slaves. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 1174		Flipper, Henry Ossian (1856-1946) First African American to graduate from West Point (1877). Document listing "The First Class according to Merit in Ordnance and Gunnery," datelined Headquarters U.S. Military Academy, West, N.Y., June 14, 1877, and signed by the adjutant of the 10th Infantry, by command of Maj. Gen. Schofield. Flipper's name appears as number 57 in the list of 76 cadets, with one additional cadet not examined due to sickness. Flipper was commissioned a 2nd Lt. and assigned to the 10th Cavalry. In 1881, his commanding officer accused him of "embezzling funds and of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman," and he was court-martialed. Although acquitted of the embezzlement charge, he was found guilty of the second charge and dismissed from the Army. As a civilian, he distinguished himself in a variety of governmental and private engineering positions and he wrote several books. He died in 1940, having made numerous attempts to clear his name. On February 19, 1999, President Clinton pardoned Flipper, recognizing an error and acknowledging Flipper's lifetime achievements. Among Flipper's listed classmates is John Guilfoyle, No. 20, who would go on to lead the famous 9th U.S. Cavalry "Buffalo Soldiers." Estimated Value $300 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $276
Lot 1175		Orphaned Indian "Little Joe" Is Enslaved. A letter from Ned in Plaisance (Louisiana), Jan. 28, 1857, to his folks, 4 pp. quarto. He tells the story of getting a little Indian boy from a neighboring overseer who found him "in the negro quarter." Ned says, "I took him in & have installed him as my servant, in fact I have enslaved him…." He relates that Joe's mother was beaten to death by his father, "a notorious rascal who had previously killeld two indians," who was in turn killed by the mother's relatives. Ned is obviously fond of the little orphan, and intends "to bring him up in the way he should go." An unusual story. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $230