Lot 143
Slave Broadside: "Public Sale of Negroes" in Charleston, SC, 1833. 12 x 8 1/8 in. broadside, advertising "Public Sale of Negroes, By Richard Clagett. On Tuesday, March 5th, 1833 at 1:00 P.M. the following Slaves will be sold at Potters Mart, in Charleston, S.C. Miscellaneous Lots of Negroes, mostly house servants, some for field work. Conditions: 1/2 cash, balance by bond, bearing interest from date of sale. Payable in one to two years to be secured by a mortgage of the Negroes, and appraised personal security. Auctioneer will pay for the papers."
Slaves to be sold include "A valuable Negro woman, accustomed to all kinds of house work." She has four children: 13, 7, 5, and 11 months old. "2 of the children will be sold with mother, the others separately, if it best suits the purchaser." A blacksmith, described as "in the prime of life, and a perfect master at his trade" will be sold with his wife and two daughters, 12 and 10. Also, "2 likely young negro wenches," a 16 year old with one eye and a 13 year old.
"A likely yellow girl about 17 or 18 years old, has been accustomed to all kinds of house and garden work. She is sold for no fault. Sound as a dollar." This makes one wonder if the lady of the house wasn't selling the "likely yellow girl" to get her away from the master of the house, who could well have been her father but still had his eye on the "likely" girl. Who would know or care if she was his daughter ?
A family consisting of a man, his wife and two daughters are being sold "because they can be done without, and money is needed." They were raised in a "genteel Virginia family" and have a genteel appearance and, oh yes, the entire family is described as "bright mulattoes…well worthy the notice of a gentleman of fortune needing such." Finally, 10 Negro Wenches ranging from 16 to 25 years of age, all sound and capable of doing a good days work in the house or field." The "0" in the number "10" is in ink; we have seen a published version of this broadside with the number "14" so perhaps four slaves were sold before the auction began.
The broadside is toned, with small edge tears, several old tape marks from posting, and a dampstain on the verso. None of these blemishes affect the legibility of the dark, clear, printed text.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000.
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| Realized $5,040 |
