American Historical Ephemera and Photography Online

A group of 20+ newspapers dating from the early-to-mid-19th century, with content involving enslavement, abolition, and other matters surrounding the African American experience. Several issues contain multiple advertisements for enslaved people and self-emancipated freedom seekers.

Highlighted newspaper publications/content includes:

Le Courrier de la Louisiane, New Orleans, LA (1834). 11 issues, 4pp (appear to be complete, pages fully separated at center fold), and 4 partial issues, 2pp (folds, toning, occasional staining, edge and corner wear). The issues contain numerous advertisements for self-emancipated freedom seekers, offering rewards for their capture, as well as advertisements for enslaved people to be sold at auction. Many are accompanied by large woodcut illustrations. The Courrier was known for having the largest woodcuts accompanying ads for enslaved people of any of the Louisiana papers. The publication also seemed to use more than woodcuts than most other publications of the period, including depictions of steamers, sailing vessels, animals, residences, etc.

In the mid- to late-1790s, French newspapers in Louisiana multiplied, their publication driven by refugees from Santo Domingo. The French Revolution outlawed slavery and enslaved people on many Caribbean islands revolted. Within about the last decade of the 18th century, the population of Louisiana doubled. Then in 1803, France sold the land to the United States and new patterns emerged. Now there was an influx of Americans, especially to New Orleans. Bilingual papers began to appear, although a number of "purists" remained resolutely French. The Courier (Le Courrier de la Louisiane) became bilingual. The first two pages are in French, with just an occasional English ad; the second two pages are in English. 

[With:] The Charleston Mercury, Charleston, SC. 9 February 1864 issue, including account of Creole in Louisiana stripped of his plantation and enslaved people, and call for enslaved labor for fortifications. -- Charleston Courier, Charleston, SC (1820). With illustrated advertisement for self-emancipated freedom seeker. -- Texas State Gazette, Austin, TX. 30 March 1850 issue including speech delivered by Daniel Webster discussing the issue of enslavement, illustrated advertisement for self-emancipated freedom seeker. -- City Gazette and Commercial Daily Advertiser, Charleston, SC. 21 November 1815 issue containing advertisements for individual enslaved people and large groups (toning, soiling throughout, edge and corner wear). -- The Picayune, New Orleans, LA. 2 February 1837 issues contain advertisements for "Dry Goods, W.F. & E.D. Hyde & Co. Wholesale," with reference to "Negro Clothing...Plain and Twilled Lowell Negro cottons, Virginia Negro Shirtings..." (heavy toning, staining, edge and corner wear). -- New Orleans Daily Delta, New Orleans, LA. 13 March 1855 issue containing a large advertisement with small vignettes of enslaved African Americans promoting the use of several medications offered by the Washington Remedies of New Orleans to plantation owners in order to cure and safeguard the health of their "faithful servants." An auction ad for 174 named Sugar and Cotton plantation enslaved people to be sold to the highest bidder is also included. -- Herald of Freedom, Concord, NH. 30 May 1835 issue containing detailed discussions on the cruelties of slavery (folds, chipping and tearing to edges). -- The Liberator, Wm. Lloyd Garrison, editor. 8 August 1862 issue discussing enslavement, African American involvement in the war, and other matters (folds, some areas of separation, edge and corner wear, chipping).

[With:] Frame containing artifact framed for display with description furnished by Carroll J. Delery III identifying the object as a bronze Manilla recovered from the English schooner Duoro (no further provenance accompanies the lot).

Together, more than 20 newspapers. Condition very good to fair, with toning, staining, folds, several with separations at folds, edge and corner wear throughout.