Lot 69
Slave Broadside: "Sale of Valuable Negroes!" 18¼ x 10 in., Montgomery, March 8th, 1853" Listing 37 slaves, plus two unborn slaves, who "Will be sold before the Court House door in the City of Montgomery, at public outcry, On Monday, the 14th inst., A valuable lot of choice Negroes…." The auctioneers are Wm. J. Taylor. Lee & Norton. The slaves are listed by name and age; most are listed as "likely" (attractive) or "very likely" and special skills are listed, as well as any physical weaknesses. "Full hands" were especially prized since more work could be gotten from them; 16 slaves are listed as such. Nelly, 15 years old and a house servant, is pregnant, as is 18-year-old Emma. Nancy, 33, is "a rapid cotton-picker"; Frank, 44, is "an excellent plantation carpenter and very likely"; Will, 56, is "a regular-bred ditcher…and is a fine cradler--at home with the carpenters or in a blacksmith's shop"; his wife, Judy, is a "pretty good cook," as is Patty, 32. Warren, 26, is a mulatto "and would make a good house servant." January, 32, has "one of his eyes injured by having hot ashes thrown in it, but the sight not destroyed"; he is still strong and able. Susy, on the other hand, complains of weakness in the ankles and is only three-fourths of a hand.
The broadside was owned by someone who bid in the auction. Pointing fingers are drawn before the names of nine slaves, either signifying that he intended to bid on these particular slaves or that he bought them. Will is among the group marked, as is Will and Judy's 22-year-old son, Lewis, but Judy is not marked. Breakiing up families was not unusual. Two-year-old Davy, who has no parents listed, is also marked.
The broadside has been matted to 23½ x 15 in. and is ready for framing. It has not been examined out of the matte. Several repairs are noted, and some tape marks on verso (or possibly marks where old tape was removed) are visible but not intrusive. There is overall toning and a few ink stains which seem to be from the pen of the bidder. The print is quite bold and the visual impact is strong.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000.
|
| |
| Realized $10,281 |
