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1848 Slave-Trader Letter & Minstrel Lyric Sheets

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Black History

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1848 Slave-Trader Letter and Minstrel Lyric Sheets, Lot of 4, Very Fine.
This assorted lot includes a letter from a part-time slave trader and cotton farmer, two lyric sheets stereotyping African Americans, and an 1882 letter complaining about Black beggars in Washington, DC. 1. August 14, 1848 Autograph Letter Signed "Geo. M. Moore", on one-page integral mailing leaf measuring 9.75" x 8", Marshal Co., Mississippi, addressed to Holland Garreth of Georgia, in part: "I have received the last half of the two hundred Dollars two weeks since ...I have some notion of going to Carolina this fall John Fleming was heare a few days ago he tells me that negroes is much cheaper than heare cottin crops is likely to be ruined by the rust I don't believe I will make a half crop..." Letter with partial tears along folds and one small hole from the wax seal. 2. & 3. "Drop A Tear You Darkies!" lyric sheet composed by J.S. Lefavour, printed by J.H. Moreland, Salem, MA--sung by the Howard Burlesque Opera Troupe of Salem. "Oh: Sambo White In Lub I'm Quite", "The Man That Has Seen Better Days," and "When Sailing on De Ohio", minstrel lyrics sheet with an uncolored engraving, published by Walker, Durham, [NC]. Very crisp printing, typical derogatory language ("Oh! Sambo White, pray come dis night... And show me, do, dy woolly head..."). 4. February 7-9, 1882 Manuscript Letter, measuring 7" x 4.5", and original transmittal envelope with cancelled 3¢ Washington stamp, written from Washington, DC, to Miss Jane Hammond of Providence, RI, describing African Americans begging in the Capital: "...and everything is interesting from the wee 'Nigs'... as they fairly swarm here at every crossing + begging for pennies! One must need carry a ...bag full of copper coins to supply the demand. But this is the place they make money..." (4 items)



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