EXCEEDING RARE - SLAVE TRADER LETTER - 1835

Slave Trader Letter. 7 ¾" x 9 ½", three pages, Nashville, May 15, 1835, to Samuel Logan of Virginia, from Joseph Meek. "…My objective now is to purchase as many as possible as all signs are favorable only the wet spring, but gotten now 18 to 20 and money plenty so there is no risk…Do not miss likely girls under 500 and men 700 and if even a little old so they ain't gray and got good teeth, purchase them if the price is in proportion. I have told Little & Talbert to keep out of your market, not to purchase in opposition to each other…don't loose no negroes for want of funds as I can raise any amount here in 3 days notice…I told Little…of course purchase as low as possible but loose none at 500 girls, 700 fellows, but to purchase in N. Carolina or South Carolina…There is from 7 to 750 asked here for fellows and on the rise. If you come across…seamstresses or fine yellow girls with good hair. They are as valuable as fellows and for no one give as much…In your answer please state as near as possible the number of negroes and capital left on hand…." Age browned with modest paper loss in folds. A full transcription is included. Slave trader letters are extremely rare!