American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography, including The Larry Ness Collection of Native American Photography

7 3/4 x 3 1/8 in., creasing, few tiny rips/tears and wear to edges, patch of adhesive residue to verso. Signed and witnessed by James D. Lyle.

Partly printed receipt recording the purchase of "one Negro Slave named Frances" for $800 paid by James Kinniard to James D. Lyle.

The James D. Lyle recorded here is likely James Davidson Lyle (1821-1862), the son of James Lyle (1798-1850), who was an associate of Thomas Jefferson. Lyle's ancestral plantation was located just south in Chesterfield County, where he enslaved 9 people by the year 1820, and about 70 by the time of his death in 1850. His son, James Davidson Lyle, appears to have died serving in the Confederate States Army as part of the 16th Virginia Infantry Regiment. He is buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA.