African Americana

3 5/16 x 2 7/8 in. printed blue ticket (very minor wear to edges).

A ticket for an anti-slavery lecture given by Nathaniel P. Banks (misspelled as Nathaneal), early in his political career. He was well-known for his oratory and debate skills, earning the attention of the Democratic party. He was, however, a staunch abolitionist and after his 1853 election to represent Massachusetts in the US House as a Democrat, he joined the newly-formed Republican party in 1855. He won a hotly contested election for Speaker of the House in 1856, became Governor of Massachusetts in 1858, elected Speaker of the House in a bitterly fought contest in 1856. He became Governor of Massachusetts in 1858, and was appointed general at the outbreak of war. Though not praised for a stellar military mind, he was instrumental in the early period of Reconstruction in Louisiana. RARE, no other known copies.

[With:] [GIDDINGS, Joshua R. (1795-1864)]. Anti-Slavery Lecture, by Hon. Joshua R. Giddings, at the Tabernacle, Tuesday Evening, December 5th. N.p.: N.p., n.d. 3 1/4 x 2 15/16 in. printed light pink ticket (minor soiling). 

A ticket for an anti-slavery lecture by prominent abolitionist and political Joshua Reed Giddings. Elected to represent Ohio in the US House as a Whig, he was a founding member of the Republican party. Notably, in 1842, he was censured for violating a gag rule against discussing slavery. Not to be silenced, he proposed several resolutions regarding the coastwise slave trade. He resigned in response to the censure but was duly re-elected with overwhelming support in the special election held to fill his vacant seat.