Lot 140
Virginia Government Official Is Slave Dealer. Manuscript letter written and signed by "le Maynes," Estillville (Va.), Sunday Evening, August 23, 1835, 2-1/3 pages quarto. The integral address leaf is free franked ("Free") above le Maynes' name, indicating that he was some kind of government official. The content of this letter, written to Joseph Meek in Nashville, Tennessee, is not official business, but is about dealing in slaves on the sly. In part: "…Mr. Sanders has 2 men that…he will sell if I will say to his wife I want them for my own use and he has said he could and would purchase 15 (mostly all grown) of Col. Thos. Tate….I left with Bradley $1500 which he promised me he would lay out in a few days for negroes of the right kind. He has a farm in the country and can buy as if for his own use without being suspected. Bradley is the sh[eri]ff of the co[unty]…I got the promise of 2 - a man and a girl…from a cousin…but it being Sunday he would not close the trade…I shall lay out all the money I have…and all we can raise…." The pale green paper is toned and has a few edge splits and fold chips; opening tears at top of address leaf affect nothing. Very Good. Boldly written by a lying, cheating government official. Imagine!!
Estimated Value $800 - 1,200.
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| Realized $460 |
