Americana
LIVE AND INTERNET AUCTION - PART II
BEGINS AT 12 NOON EASTERN, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2002

"My country `tis of thee..."

803. SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH (1808 - 1895) American clergyman and poet, author of our nation hymn "America" (1832), otherwise known as "My Country `Tis of Thee". Fine A.Q.S. 1p. 8vo., [n.p.], Sep. 17, 1890, the first seven-line verso of our "Am 1879", the first verse of our national hymn "America" ("My country `tis of thee..."), beautifully-penned, signed at bottom. Light toning from prior framing, mounting remnants on verso, else very good.$700-900

804. SAM HOUSTON (1793 - 1863) American soldier and politician, defeated Santa Anna at San Jacinto and became first president of the Republic of Texas. Bold signature "Sam Houston" closely-cut from a document. Very good. $400-600

"...place the facts on record...as nothing like it was ever heard before..."

805. PHINEAS T. BARNUM (1810 - 1891) American showman who opened his circus, "The Greatest Show On Earth", merged with James Bailey to form Barnum and Bailey Circus. A.L.S. "P. T. Barnum" on his monogram letterhead, 1p. 8vo., London, June 28, 1882 to a newspaper amusement editor. Typical Barnum, in part: "...My partner J. L. Hutchinson cables me from Boston that our show receipts there the first six days were $74,000...I trust you will willingly place the facts on record in your column for future reference, as nothing like it was ever heard of before..." Very good. $400-600

806. SAMUEL C. ARMSTRONG (1839 - 1893) American soldier and educator, served in the Union army in the Civil War, rising to the rank of major general. Appointed an agent of the Freedmen's Bureau in Virginia, he quickly realized the need for vocational training for emancipated slaves, and persuaded the American Missionary Association to found, in 1868, the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, now the Hampton Institute. Because of Armstrong's interest, Native Americans were later admitted to the institution, which he headed until his death. Fine content A.L.S. on Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute letterhead, 2pp. 8vo., Hampton, Jan. 12, 1876 to a lady discussing the qualities of a scholarship recipient, closing: "...I think the education of the negro is almost as great a task as it was to liberate him...". Very good. $200-300

807. KAPIOLANI Queen of the Hawaiian Islands, wife of King David Kalakaua. Bold signature "Kapiolania" on a beige card. Very good. $100-150

808. ROBERT PATTERSON (1753 - 1827) American pioneer and author who served in Clark's 1778 Illinois expedition, and was second in command to Daniel Boone at the Battle of Blue Licks. Later served as Sheriff. Signature as Deputy Sheriff a small slip, taken from a document. Very good. $100-150

809. SAMUEL FRANCIS SMITH (1808 - 1895) American clergyman and poet, author of our nation hymn "America" (1832), otherwise known as "My Country `Tis of Thee". Rare S.P. "S. F. Smith", a cabinet photo showing Smith from mid-chest, up, signed in the white bottom margin. Backstamp by W. Notman, Boston. First letter in signature a bit blurred due to a faulty pen, bottom slightly trimmed, else very good condition and suitable for framing.$200-300

810. THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER A printed broadside 1p., 4to., [Washington] April 2, 1917 announcing the bill (H.R. 91) proposing that the House of Representatives enact a resolution "...That the poem written by Francis Scott Key, entitled `The Star Spangled Banner,' be... declared to be the national anthem of the United States of America...". Some foxing, otherwise very good condition.$75-100

811. EMANCIPATION LEADERS Excellent oval collage-type photo, 10 1/2" x 13 1/2" overall depicting those Senators and Representatives of the 38th Congress who voted to enact the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery, with Lincoln shown at bottom, Hannibal Hamlin at the top, and Schuyler Colfax at center. There appears in print at the edge of the image: "Entered According to Act of Congress in the year 1865 by Powell & Co....New York". Sold with the printed key numbering and naming all of the portraits depicted. Very good. $400-600

812. BLACK CHILD AMBROTYPE Rare 2 3/4" x 3 1/4" ambrotype depicting a black infant, about one year old, wearing a white dress and a dark shawl, seated upon a pillow. Set in case with broken hinges. Bit of crazing and tiny spotting, overall very good. $150-200

813. COLONIAL SLAVE DISPUTE Good content D.S. 1p. 4to., Suffolk County, [N.Y], Oct. 8, 1761 in which "...Phoebe Halsey complains against John Halsey in Custody & of a Plea that he render unto her one certain Negro Man Named _____ of the Value of _____ Pounds New York Money which from her he unjustly detains..." Right margin ragged affecting a few words, partial fold tears, light soling, otherwise very good.$75-100

814. DISPUTING OWNERSHIP OF A SLAVE A interesting D.S. 2pp. legal folio, [n.p.], Apr. 14, 1848, the answer of Joseph Choate against accusations brought before the court by plaintiff Nancy Vaughn concerning the ownership of a slave named Carolina. In addition to denying his guilt, Choate asserts further that: "...The Girl Slave `Carolina' is not the property of the plaintiff in this case, but the property of the defendant, purchased by him for a full and valuable consideration of a second party holding and excising full control over said Negro...". Second page trimmed to approximately 1/4 its original length, else very good condition. $100-150

816. HIDING A SLAVE FROM THE LAW A.L.S. "J. Freeman Smith" 1p. 4to., Jackson Miss., Jan 19, [circa 1840's], concerning the collection of a fine from a Mr. Bass, in part: "...I have returned from Vicksburg and find you absent. Mr. Bass had removed his negro Lucy to Hinds Co. to avoid paying a cost bill for breaking the peace...on learning the purport of the decree he [Bass]...set off to run his negro away...I desire...[he] comply with the decree...I ask of you now to attend thus far to this case...If by attacking Bass he can be made to return the negro Lucy...then I will pay you a fee...if the negro or no other property can be come at, I pay you nothing...I have returned the decree with the sheriffs return...we must not delay as Bass will hear of this and run himself as well as the negro...". $150-200

817. NO SLAVES IMPORTED Interesting A.D.S. 1p. oblong 8vo., "Wheatfield Township", September, 1818, a constable's return reading in part: "...Basterd Children Born...None. Deers killed out of season...None. Negroes Nor Melato slaves Imported...None...". Signed by the constable at conclusion. Very good. $75-100

818. SLAVE APPRAISAL A partial early estate appraisal, 2pp. folio, [Louisiana]. Nov. 25, 1819, listing six slaves sold by name and price. Instead of breaking the slaves out individually, this particular executioner chose to itemize each individual's purchase, whether slaves, pigs, cotton, etc., in the order in which they were purchased. One entry reads: "...1 Heifer $10.00, 1 Negro man Simon $350, one Negro woman Shelby $400...". Encapsulated in Japanese tissue for preservation, very good. $100-150

819. SLAVE APPRAISAL A partial early estate appraisal, 2pp. folio, [Louisiana.], Oct. 22, 1825, listing and assigning evaluations to the estate of Isabella Hunter, listing, among her other property, seven names slaves and their values, including: "...A Negro Man London $500...1 Negro Woman names June $200...1 Negro Woman Polly & her child Lune $650..."and so on. Encapsulated in Japanese tissue for preservation, very good.$100-150

820. SLAVE AUCTIONEER'S TOKEN A scarce relic of the slave trade of the mid-1800's, a copper promotional token, 1" dia., issued by the Charleston slave auction house of W. W. Wilbur. The obverse of the coin shows a standing auctioneer with gavel in hand reading: "W. W. WILBUR AUCTION & COMMISSION MERCHANT CHARLESTON, SO. CA. 1846" with the reverse bearing a palmetto tree. Typical wear, generally good to very good condition. $100-150

821. SLAVE HIRE LAWSUIT An interesting copy legal document, 12pp. legal folio, Travis County, TX, Apr. 27, 1868, in which C.R. Johns, owner of the slave "Nancy", hired her out to a Mr. Mosely and Mr. Goodrich for the first two years of the Civil War, yet failed to receive payment. Johns explains that he is filing suit at this late date because Feb. 26, 1863, the Texas Legislature passed an act suspending the trying of all civil cases until one year after the close of the War. Likely due to the large amount of men going into service, including many of the propertied classes such as plantation owners, the impressments of large number of slaves into Confederate service, and the added economic disruptions including the freeing of slaves, led to an increasing legal morass as the War progressed. It is not unlikely that such contracts as the one entered into here were involuntarily broken to due to the circumstances of the War. Nonetheless, the postwar local court of Travis County held that the plaintiff Johns' contracted should have been enforced, and that the rent of the slave now to be paid. Upon losing the case in lower court, the defendants appealed, and the case was presented to the Supreme Court. Fully intact, and bearing the original pink ribbon with which it was bound. In very clean, near fine condition. $75-100

822. SLAVE OVERSEER CASE A.D.S. by a William Murthschild on behalf of his client, 3pp. legal folio, Texas Supreme Court, Mar. 19, 1856, the Statement of Facts and a Motion for a new trial given by Little, attorney for the estate of William A. Little, owner of a small plantation, who was found guilty in lower court of firing his slave overseer prematurely and for insufficient reasons. The case's details are somewhat complicated, but give good insight into the nature of employment contracts from this period. In near fine condition. $150-200

823. SLAVERY Interesting D.S. 13pp.; legal folio, Brazonia County, TX, Dec. 1855, a portion of the proceedings of a particularly complicated legal case in which two partners in an extensive plantation with a work force of over 70 slaves sell their property after a series of financial reverses to a set of creditors, Rice, Adams & Co., from whom they have borrow large sums of money to keep the plantation afloat. In doing so, however, long before the plaintiffs had borrowed money from the above-mentioned creditors, at least one of the partners in the plantation, had already used the plantation itself as collateral to secure an earlier loan to buy equipment and other supplies! In this particular document, the firm of Rice, Adams & Co. are asking to be repaid for the original loan made against the plantation. A very convoluted case, in any event. Chipping and toning to bottom edge of sheets, otherwise very good, bearing the original pink ribbon seal. $100-150

824. SLAVERY A neat D.S. 6pp.legal folio, Austin, TX, [n.d., but pre-Civil War], an appeal of one defendant, Trammell, in a case wherein four defendants, Trammell, Dewitt, Watson and Askey, were ordered to either surrender a group of slaves valued at $5,000.00 due to non-payment, or else return the slaves and pay interest on their sale prices. While the other three defendants chose to appeal the ruling, the fourth, Watson, chose instead to pay his portion of the moneys owed and honor the court's ruling. Completely intact, moderate rust stains on several pages, otherwise very good. $150-200

825. SLAVERY D.S. 7pp. legal folio, Austin, TX, Aug. 14, 1852, in which a lawyer for the defendant argues, while basically agreeing with the court's ruling against his client, that the amount of the reward demanded was excessive, since his client already paid the plaintiff for lands owned and for the rental of slaves and land. Fully intact and in very good condition with just slight marginal wear, and bearing the original pink ribbon binding. $100-150

826. SLAVES AS COLLATERAL ON LOAN An unusual legal document, 9pp. legal folio, [Austin], "Supreme Court", "Term 1837", concerning a case in which defendants M. Eroskins [?] and Thomas Kilson protests his being found guilty of non-payment of a loan secured by two slaves, and of being order to make payment with interest from the date of the agreement. In doing so, the defendants take the unusual step of admitting to not paying the original loan! They then argue that since the original bearer of the loan was now dead, and since they did not contract with the member of the estate who had presented the loan to the court, they should not be held accountable for restitution. The court holds in favor of the State, not surprisingly, and in fact almost implies that the sheer stupidity of the two defendants is grounds alone for their guilt! Fully intact, and still bound with the original white ribbon. In very clean, near fine condition. An intriguing example!$100-150

827. VALUATION OF AN ILL SLAVE Interesting manuscript D.S. 2pp. legal folio, May 12, 1832, [n.p.] a document detailing an estate settlement. Part of the deal was to "...Share in the loss...also leaving one Negro woman...who had been of little value from sickness, how[ever] should said Negro become valuable I am to continue to hold on to one half interest in the said Negro paying half board and doctor bills...". Usual folds, light soiling, otherwise very good. $150-200

828. CARPETBAGGER RULE RESULTS IN RIOTING An extremely rare group of three documents chronicling a series of horrific events in Marianna, Jackson County, Florida during which whites and blacks indiscriminately murdered one another during 1869 as a result of the Federal government interfering in local politics. At the end of the war military rule gripped the South and in late 1865, former Union officer Charles Hamilton was appointed to head of the Northern district of Florida's Freedmen's Bureau. After his placement, Hamilton appointed two former Union officers, a certain W.J. Purman as head of the Jackson County office and John D. Dickinson as Justice of the Peace for Marianna, Florida. Tensions between black and whites grew as the bureau implemented its plans to reconstruct the South and by February 1869, Purman was severely wounded and a friend killed after the two were ambushed on their way home from a minstrel show. In response to the attack, an armed mob of African-Americans assembled to ransack Marianna, but tempers cooled and all remained quiet until a group of blacks were assaulted on their way to a picnic. The attack left two of the picnickers dead and prompted random murders. The first document, entitled: "Memoranda of Occurrences relating to the assassinations in Jackson, County", 10pp. legal folio, [Marianna], October 1869, gives an eyewitness account of what Dickinson saw and heard at the start of these bloody massacres, in very small part: "...Sept. 28, 1869...Wyatt Young, Calvin Rogers...and about 23 women and children went from Marianna to Robinson Spring to attend a picnic...they were fired upon from the roadside with about 15 shots, Wyatt Young and Stewart Livingston were killed...29th as Columbus Sullivan and George Cox were hauling a load of cotton someone fired a load of shot at them, hitting Sullivan in the face and arm...Maggie McClellan [was shot in front of the hotel]...went to the hotel and found a guard there and they had three negroes in charge...one of them [a prisoner] asked me if he could be released...no one seemed to be willing to communicate with me...I saw...others all armed with guns moving...towards the park...Calvin was the guilty one...his men...ranged themselves about [me] with their guns at a ready...I went up town...and found everything in wild excitement. The young men were drunk...an evident arraignment...to let the wild boys kill Calvin...Casualties to date...Whites killed Maggie McClellan...Colored killed Wyatt Young, Stewart Livingston, Oscar Granbury...and one man unknown on Bryan's plantation...morning of the 13th...wrote to governor...recommended [?] of Election and discussed martial law business...Oct 23...Bell's house shot into...Lucy Griffin attacked three times on the street...troops arrived Oct. 26...Ely and Calhoun told Richard Pooser and other Negroes that they had got to vote...or they would make them...the Robinson Negroes would learn now that it was not best to aid in assisting a White Man...Charles Ely told "Mose" that a crowd had determined to kill the Nichols Girl [in retaliation for the murder of McClellan] Oct. 29th...Coker...d__d Hamilton, Purman [the agent shot in February], Lowe, and I and any man that would take an office to "Out lick" those fellows...". Also included is a 3pp. legal folio, Oct. 5, 1869 [Marianna], a court document in which Samuel Fleishman [a noted Unionist and an active member of the Republican party] attests before Dickinson that he was told to get out of town and that threats were made against his life. Dickinson took Fleishman's statement, but apparently was powerless to do anything about the complaints. Eventually, Fleishman was escorted to the state line by angry citizens and warned not to return, but turned up dead days later after not heeding the warning. Blame for the incident was placed on Purman and Hamilton by Florida Gov. Reed, but the killing spree did not end until a year after the two men left the county in 1870. Lastly, is an A.L.S. "Hamilton" 4pp. 4to., Washington, Dec. 2, 1870, to Dickinson concerning their time in Marianna, in part: "...A letter comes to me as a welcome, but almost lost vice from the land of dreams...it touches a day in my memory and a cord in my heart that awakens me as if from slumber and I can't determine whether the emotion partakes more of pleasant or unpleasant...there is a people there whom I love...I think of Fleishman, that...noble, valuable friend, whom I loved with an almost holy affection. I think of all the good friends who comforted me a stranger in a strange land...what feelings the name `Marianna' excites within me...I had put your name in as one of the corporators in the American Oceanic Steam Ship Co...Adams' ought to make you deputy...Jenkins promised me to send a deputy collector to reside with you in Marianna...". Three truly great pieces of Reconstruction history showing the racial tensions created over-forced political and social rule. It should be noted that Dickinson was murdered by the angry white population of Marianna in 1871, himself a victim of the whole unfortunate affair. Some negligible stains and soiling, else very good.
$250-350

829. COMSTOCK LODE Good mining content A.L.S. 4pp. 8vo., Clinton, Aug. 22, 1883 in which A. Soderling appraises his friend that he has "...Been up to the mine today. The ore measures about 15 feet across and allowing the dip of the ledge there would be 10 feet across at right angles to the dip of veins and exposed about 30 feet in length by the cut itself. Outside of that it cannot be any more than about 20 feet up to the first Shaft South Trunk, in which the ore is not so high a grade say about $20. The grade of the ore extracted from the present cut first class (between 1/2 and 1/2 of all taken out) would yield about $70 per ton...Samples I was not allowed to take but it doesn't not matter. I think the above estimate can not vary very much from the Pulp assay not counting Gold...The property is about as good as I expected, and I think it will be the best in the North Comstock...". Usual folds, one repaired with tape, lightly soiled, otherwise very good. $200-300

830. ARCHITECT'S RENDITION OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER An interesting 10 1/2" x 13 1/2" photograph of an architect's model of the World's Trade Center, ca. late 1960's or early 1970's. The color image shows the Twin Towers' impressive scale as they dwarf the other buildings in a city and its financial plaza setting. The design and building of such a great triumph was obviously a source of pride to many designers and architects and this rendering most likely, at one time, graced the walls of some proud architectural firm. Minor spotting on the inside of the glass, else very good. Not examined out of the frame. $200-300

831. 19TH CENTURY SHIP DRAWINGS A fine group of five sketches all on oblong 4to. sheets depicting various sailing ships. The first two are pen and ink drawings [one dated 1840 in pencil] rendered by one G. P. Bonfield, showing sailing ships in heavy seas. One bears an explanation on the verso of sail rigging in heavy seas: "...When it is thought proper to get her on the other Tack, every attention will be necessary to make here stay, as from the blowing weather she has had, then will of course be a heavy sea, which will continue to strike on the weather bow on every attempt to tack, and tend to pay her head off again. The fore topmast stay sail, on this account, is hauled down". The other three drawings are profiles of various ships including a barge and cutter. Each drawing, on lined paper, is done in pen and ink with the hull and sails filled in with gray watercolor. Above each of the three drawings the artist has detailed the specifications for each sail. Five pieces, light to moderate soiling, a few ragged top margins which could be matted out, otherwise very good condition. Would be fine for display. $200-300

832. U.S.S. CHATTANOOGA An interesting grouping of photographs and ephemera from the cruise of the U.S.S. Chattanooga (1904-1908). Included are photographs of a group of sailors during their visit to Tokyo including a fine image of hand-drawn rickshaw drivers at the Shinbashi Station, as well as other group portraits in front of various Tokyo landmarks. Together with a program for a performance of the ship's vaudeville company which included vocal performances, a one act variety play, and a three round boxing match. Also included is a lithograph noting the ports of call for the U.S.S. Chattanooga from Oct. 1904 to Sept. 1907, as well as a book of photographs of Tangier as well as other minor pieces of ephemera. An interesting collection in good to very good condition. $100-150

833. 19TH CENTURY DIARY GROUPING A grouping of five diaries kept by American women ca. 1818-1854, largely bearing religious content and descriptions of quotidian life. Includes: a leather-bound diary measuring 4" x 6", kept by one Sarah L. Fugol, approx. 40pp, ca. April, 1854, reading, in small part: "...Sabbath. Went to the Bethel. Mr. Prue preached from 2nd Corinthians...But we have this treasure in earlier vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God...We attended the funeral of Mrs. J. Oliver yesterday. Mr. Morris read the 90 Psalm...Her sudden demise is a solemn warning to the living. Mr. Staver also opinionated his prayer words very solemn...My cough keeps me from getting to the house of worship today...", and much more in the same vein. The second diary measures 6 1/2" x 8" bound with string only, approx. 20pp. c0a. 1818, kept by an unnamed person, with more religious content, in quite ragged shape; the third bound with string only measures 4" x 8 1/2", approx.40pp., ca. Jan. 1853, kept by an unnamed person, in small part: "...As I have entered on a new period of life, seen the commencement of this new year may I examine my heart and ascertain wherever I did amiss, in my temper, or behavour, during the past year, and with thy help and in thy strength resolve to amend it..."; the fourth measures 4" x 5 7/8", bound with string, approx. 40pp., ca. Jan. 1, 1854, and undertaken by the same person as the above, with more religious content of the same manner; the fifth measures 8" x 6", approx. 50pp., [n.d.], bound with string and containing more of the same content. All the diaries appear to be written in a feminine hand, with content ranging from a predominance of religious matters to descriptions of daily life. All bear soiling and varying degrees of wear, from moderate to significant, as is to be expected. Possibly a quite intriguing grouping, worthy of further research. Offered as is. Should be viewed. $100-150

834. NEW YORK Good lot of eighteen pieces ca. 1760-1880, consisting of letters, documents and ephemera related to New York City and New York State. Included is an L.S. of CYRUS FIELD, dated May 15, 1861; an early letter from a New York Times reporter dated Dec. 5, 1863 with a good Times envelope bearing an engraving of the newspaper's offices at the time; a 1769 A.L.S. of New York Treasurer, Gerard Bancker; a program of performances at the New York Aquarium from 1880; a copy of the New World form Feb. 4, 1843 with an interesting engraving of British Troops marching in Afghanistan and other interesting pieces. Condition ranges from fair to very good. $100-150

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