Scarce first edition (1849) antiquarian book, "Narrative of the Life of Henry Bibb." First published in 1849 and largely unavailable for many years. An extremely important story. Reader's Copy -- This book is in poor condition, but it is a fascinating object that …

The genuine prototype of anatomically-enhanced underwear designed by former Black Panther leader, Eldridge Cleaver, for his fashion line of Eldridge de Paris clothing. This pair of underwear was donated to the Collection by Pat Matrisciana. Pat was the gentleman w…

First edition hardback book by William Wells Brown (1814? - 1884) is titled The American Fugitive in Europe: Sketches of Places and People Abroad.  With a Memoir of the Author.  It was published in 1855 by John P Jewett and Company of Boston in 1855.  This is an e…

ENGRAVING: The Negro Exodus : The old style and the new. Published Date: 1880 (9 3/4 x 14 in.). From Harper's weekly : a journal of civilization. (New York : Harper' s Weekly Co., 1880).

BACKGROUND: In the decades following the Civil War, over a half-million blac…

1856 Porter Slave Tags (Charleston, SC). Sheet of 12 on lead. Slave tags were only issued by the city of Charleston and Charleston Neck (SC) from 1800 to 1865. BACKGROUND: Slave tags were a form of licenses issued to slave owners who leased out their slaves for sp…

Bronze image by DuBois of slave-holder whipping his slave for spilling the contents of a basket (16" tall, with heavy marble base).
SCULPTOR: Often described as a quiet, humble man, Jess E. DuBois paints every day. In a testimony to the cultural diversity that has…

ENGRAVING: View of the Slave Coast, East Africa. Various views that slave ships would have seen as they approached the coast to pick up more slaves.
 -- Genuine Slave shackles for wrists or ankles from Ghana's Slave Castle. The elders of the town allowed these sha…

ENGRAVING: Scene on a West Indian Plantation -- Slaves Receiving the News of Their Emancipation. Emancipation Day – Friday, 1 August 1834 – was celebrated throughout the British Caribbean at chapels, churches and government-sanctioned festivals, some of which were…

A number of movie theater lobby cards, posters and inter-office memos from the Toddy Pictures Company during the 1940s. Plus there are hand-written notes, perhaps from Henry R. Arias (Astor Export Corp), detailing plans for the implementation of an exclusive three…

First edition copy of a book by William Still. THE UNDERGROUND RAIL ROAD. Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1872.  (entered into Library of Congress 1871). Thick 8vo; hardbound in the original cloth-covered boards; frontis portrait of Still with tissue guard; all pla…

An original 1843 Seaman's Protection Certificate from the District of New Bedford in Massachusetts, signed by Quaker Abolitionist and employer of Frederick Douglass, Rodney French.  This is Protection Certificate number 1233 dated 14th November 1843. This is a pri…

Autographed copy of Lay Bare the Heart, an Autobiography of the Civil Rights Movement by James L. Farmer, Jr. New York. Arbor House. 1985. Hard cover. Very Good in Very Good dust jacket. DJ is worn at edges. The author, a founder of CORE, sets the record straight …

An extremely rare copy of The Verdict March by Eugene L. Blake and published by F. W. Helmick in 1882 (donated by Dr. Joanna Kirkpatrick). Charles Julius Guiteau (September 8, 1841 – June 30, 1882) was an American lawyer who assassinated U.S. President James A. Ga…

Rare edition of "Bricks Without Straw," a Novel by Albion W. Tourgee, LLD (Late Judge of the Superior Court of North Carolina, Author of A Fool's Errand). Publisher:   Fords, Howard & Hulbert. Assuming to be a First Edition but not stated. Copyright Date: 1880 wit…

Hon. Charles Sumner (MA) "The Crime Against Kansas", given May 19, 1856 -- Passionate Anti-Slavery speech
(The speech that led to the near-fatal beating of Sumner at the hands of Congressman Preston Brooks -- 3 year recuperation, with some time spent in Europe.)
-- …

Monarchs of Minstrelsy -- Extremely rare book that provides some clues about the beginnings of the term, "Jim Crow." Original 1911 FIRST EDITION of “Monarchs of Minstrelsy” by Edw. Le Roy Rice. The book was published by Kenny Publishing Company.  The book measures…

1866 Dutch book about Theodore Parker, a famous American abolitionist heavily involved in the Anti-Slavery movement in the United States. A biography in French was published in 1863 by the French Protestant theologian, Albert Reville, that obviously tied in with t…

La Solidarieta Israelitica e i Falascia. First Edition published in 1907. [translation of title] Israelite Solidarity and the Falasha. Controversial lecture by an Orthodox Rabbi and scholar on behalf of the Ethiopian "Falasha" Jews delivered in the Great Jewish Sy…

A 4 page hand-written letter by Elizur Wright dated September 23, 1881. It is to the editor of the Newton Republican about errors in his new manuscript book (Myron Holley) and discusses La Fontaine, the famous book he had translated from French to English. He give…

1862 Autograph Letter Signed "Joshua R. Giddings" (5 1/4" x 8") two conjoined pages, separate sheets with postscript signed "J R G" -- folds, soiling, slight separation at two folds, on rare pictorial stationery of the UNITED STATES CONSULATE GENERAL, British Nort…

Very scarce First Edition 1888 copy of, "Der Sclavenhandel in Afrika und seine Greuel, beleuchtet nach den Vorträgen des Cardinals Lavignerie und Berichten von Missionaren und Forschern." by Walter Helmes. (German translation of title: The Slave Trade in Africa an…

A 1925 ladies class ring from the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute. This college was founded in 1868 after the civil war and was for the American Indians and African Americans. The school is located in Hampton, Virginia and has a rich history. The ring wa…

An extremely scarce first edition (1730) copy of "An Historical Account of the Incorporated  Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Containing their Foundation, Proceedings, and the Success of their Missionaries in the British Colonies, to the…

An antique framed engraving. It is of a membership certification to the Troy Conference Missionary Society, an auxiliary to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  It is dated June 21st 1852. Signed by Edmund S. Jones (local pastor of State Stre…

Autographed Letter (dated November 23, 1840), written and signed by ‘Thomas Clarkson’ -- to ‘My dear friend’, informing him that “I have received the Manuscript safe”, asking him to correct the work and send it to the Press, concluding that “I consider that I cann…

David Livingstone (1813-1873) letter -- Extremely rare hand written letter (dated 6, July 1865) from David Livingstone and signed by him that gives a human glimpse into the life of a man of supreme commitment to God and to the people of the continent of Africa. Th…

Extremely rare contract/agreement signed on January 25, 1950 by Ethel Waters and Charles Samuels for two books, "His Eye is on the Sparrow" and "The Sparrow Sings the Blues."
-- Seven first edition copies of Ethel's book, co-written by Charles Samuels.
-- Very rare,…

First Edition (1892) copy of Washington's Barbadoes Journal (1751-52). The daily journal of Major George Washington, kept while on a tour from Virginia to the island of Barbados, with his invalid brother, Major Lawrence Washington -- by Joseph Meredith Toner (1825…

An 18th century whale's tooth with excellent scrimshaw work depicting two female, two male African slave and a slave ship...with the name, Jacob Ives. This artifact was sent to one of the premier experts (Dr. Stuart Frank) at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford, MA.…

December 13, 1895 handwritten 2-page letter from Benjamin Drew (Plymouth, MA) to his nephew, who is opening a museum (Bangs) in Demorest, GA. In the letter Drew is responding to his nephew's request for artifacts and images from his travels around the world -- ima…

Chambers' Edinburgh Journal -- May 27, 1843 -- Article (1/2 page) titled "Slavery in America" -- A very detailed account of the horrors that white abolitionists faced, as well accounts of the torturous deaths of negroes. A very shocking article that details some r…

Very rare bronze plaque by famous Belgian artist, Paul Wissaert (1885-1972) - Return of Prince Albert from Africa. Front: Depicts a young African boy waving at a ship, inscribed: "La jeunesse Bruxelloise au Prince Albert à son retour d'Afrique - About 1909." Rever…

A letter (Dec. 16th, 1792) handwritten by Levi Hart to his son, William Hart (in Norwich), with a quotation from Proverbs 3:6 (In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths) at the bottom of the letter.
-- The extremely rare 40-page Levi Hart's 30t…

An extremely rare First Edition anti-slavery play by the Belgian, Louis Delmer.  L'Esclave (The Slave, an abolitionist dramatic play, in four acts). Printed Brussels & Paris 1890. What makes this particular book scarce is that it was signed by Delmer in 1890 to th…

An intriguing engraving shows the famous horse named Wagner and Cato, the slave boy, who won his freedom riding it in 1839, some 36 years before the first Kentucky Derby race in 1875. It is a fascinating story. This particular framed engraving (definitely 19th cen…

Three-fifths (slaves): An 8-page newspaper, The Balance and Columbian Repository, Hudson NY -- Tuesday July 2, 1805. Published by Harry Croswell, Warren-Street, Hudson. There is an interesting 2-page anti-slavery article in relation to the US Constitution and citi…

"The Revolution in America" -- a lecture by John Elliot Cairnes, A.M., Professor. Contents address the immorality of slavery and movements to abolish slavery in the Northern states and District of Columbia....Author of "The Slave Power" Delivered before the Dublin…

October 23, 1850 Philadelphia letter to William D. Lewis, Esq. (Collector of the Customs House) by John Birnes (?), a man seeking employment as an oath giver to fugitive slaves. He explains that he knows the laws of fugitive slaves and can perform the customs hous…

Scarce, First Edition copy of The Sons of Allen: Together with a Sketch of the Rise and Progress of Wilberforce University, By Rev. Horace Talbert. The Aldine Press, Xenia, Ohio, 1906. A first edition in good condition; with index, frontis sketch of Bishop Richard…

Sir Rex Niven's book, "Nine Great Africans", published in 1964 by G. Bell and Sons, LTD of London. The nine great Africans are: 1. Arabi the Egyptian 2. Mutesa the Chief 3. Menelik the Emperor 4. Seyyid Said the Sultan 5. Chaka the Soldier 6. Muhammed the Askia 7.…

Court order form William Carlisle to Constable of Sussex county Delaware to recover a debt owed Eli Coverdale by Clement Cannon. The documents are given under hand and seal, at Johnstown the 16th of Sept 1814. Johnstown or Johnson's corner, later became Reliance M…

Neighbor Jackwood by J.T. Trowbridge. Originally published in 1857. Hurst reprint no date, circa later 1800s. An antislavery novel by the Boston author of juvenile literature about the beautiful Camille Delisard, the daughter of a Frenchman and his slave, who is s…

CDV of Thomas Carlyle, along with a set of 37 books by Thomas Carlyle, published in the 1800's. This is the People's Edition, cloth with gilt spines. It includes a copy of Thomas Carlyle's infamous essay, "Occasional Discourse on the Nigger Question." This essay w…

Two original late-17th century French engravings by Nicolas II de Larmessin (c. 1632-c. 1694). The subject is the first is that of Emperor of Mono-Motapa, an archaic name for greater Zimbabwe. Chimbganda Matombo (1634-1698) seems most likely the Emperor depicted; …

Extremely rare 1878 First Edition copy of Music And The Highly Musical People ,Remarkable Colored Musicians, by James W, Trotter, [Black author] with illus of him, Boston Lee & Shepherd. 353 pp and 2nd part 152 pp.  12 illus of black singers & Musicians, with othe…

First Edition (1895) A very rare antique book, "Afro-American Encyclopedia: The Thoughts Doings And Sayings of The Race", compiled and published by James T. Haley, Haley & Florida. It's illustrated with beautiful half-tone engravings and offers a huge assortment o…

2-Volumes of Anti-Slavery Papers, by James Russell Lowell. Volume I contains 28 article, published during 1844 - 1848 from "The National Anti-Slavery Standard." Volume II includes 27 articles which were published over a period of almost two years in "The National …

Rare, huge 16" record for Armed Forces Radio Services (Basic Music Library) from WW-II, Volume no.R-39/40 SIDE-1:Church Choir: 5-tracks... SIDE-2: Dorothy Maynor with Frank Black and the NBC Symphony Orchestra:3-tracks. A number of songs, including: Swing Low Swee…

Poulson's American Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia, March 20, 1818) "Spain Consents to Abolition of Slave Trade" -- A Treaty concluded and signed at Madrid by Sir H. Wellesley and M. Pizarro. Spaniards prohibited from going North of the line to purchase Negroes fro…

Czech Novel on American Slavery, 1871, "Otrocnik, aneb: Rozum bez srdce. Povidka ze zivota americkych osadniku pro mladez a pratele jeji" [The Slave Merchant, or Brains without Heart; A Tale of American Plantation Life for Young People and Their Friends]. Written …

1887 (two First Edition copies, 1150 pages) and one 1890 (733 pages) -- Three copies of Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising by Rev. William J. Simmons. (The 1887, 1st edition, WorldCat search locates only 50 copies of the 1st edition worldwide.) The book …

Scarce 1853 First Edition copy (2 copies) of Solomon Northrup's "Twelve Years a Slave: Narrative of Solomon Northrup", dedicated to Harriet Beecher Stowe. 336 pages, with 7 illustrations by Coffin. This is the graphic story of the abduction of a free Negro adult f…

A truly scarce and unique recital program for the great African-American contralto Marian Anderson. The performance was at the Gulistan Theatre in Dacca, East Pakistan on November 26, 1957, revealing the international impact she experienced. The concert was sponso…

Tuskegee Summer Institute For Teachers certificate (framed) signed by Robert Russa Moton (R.R. Moton), Principal and E. C. Roberts, Summer Institute Director. The diploma was signed on July 5th, 1924.  S. Eloise Walton received the diploma for Primary Methods & Pr…

Six different documents (deeds) signed by Blanche K. Bruce. Washington, DC: These deeds were signed by Bruce when he served as Recorder of Deeds (1890-1893), a position appointed to him by President Benjamin Harrison replacing Frederick Douglass.

BACKGROUND: Bla…

A rare and interesting cabinet card (CDV) of Samuel Adjar Crowther which probably dates from around the 1860s. Samuel (Adjar) Crowther was born December 31st, 1809 in Africa. He was the first ever African to be ordained by the church Missionary Society who was con…

Vintage set of five Stock Car Replicas 1/64 -- featuring WENDELL SCOTT, the man who broke the color barrier in stock car racing - and he did so in 1963 when he became the first (and still the only) black driver to win a race in what is now the Sprint Cup Series. F…

An intriguing hand written letter dated December 27, 1927 by Ethetreda Lewis, the editor of the popular book, Trader Horn. In the letter, from Johannesburg, she references the popularity of the book about Alfred Aloysius, who was also known as "Trader Horn". Actua…

Cast iron sculpture (heavy) of an African American Lawn Jockey -- Jocko. Pre-1950s. The piece measures 11" tall and 3" square at the base.  Probably a vintage reproduction, the jockey is wearing a red vest with a yellow tie. His cap is red and there is a screw in …

An early authentic original program given out at Blind Tom Concerts (ca. 1867) entitled, "Songs, Sketches of the Life of Blind Tom the Marvelous Musical Prodigy, The Negro Boy Pianist, Whose Recent Performances at the Great St. James and Egyptian Halls (London) an…

Vintage, signed soft cover copy of John Howard Griffin's book, "Black Like Me". A fascinating account of a white man's journey through the American South as a black man. Griffin colored his skin and assumed a black identity in 1959.
-- Eight original copies of the …

Authentic, original manuscript of the dramatic poetry of Evelyn Patterson Burrell entitled, Weep No More.  Copy written in 1973, this work chronicles in narrative poetic verse, the plight of the Black people through history and slavery in the United States. This m…

Signed photograph of Leslie Hutchinson. The photo has been hand signed “To Jeanette Kennard, Gratefully Hutch 1942”. Leslie Arthur Hutchinson was born on the Island of Grenada on the 7th March, 1900. His father played the organ in the local church and Leslie learn…

An 1813 document in beautiful calligraphy, written and signed by African American Revolutionary War hero, Wentworth Cheswell (1747-1817). Wentworth served his town in varied capacity every year from 1768 to 1817, including terms as town selectman, justice of the p…

A carte-de-visite (CDV) of Theodore or Theodros or Tewodros II (1818-1868), King of Abyssinia and Emperor of Ethiopia (reigned 1855-1868). Born in the western province of Qwara during a period of disunity in Ethiopia, he was called Kassa and was the son of a minor…

The Methodist Magazine, 1798. Printed by Henry Tuckniss, 575 pages. This magnificent volume covers the entire year of 1798 with original sermons, experiences, letters, poetry and other religious pieces, together with instructive and useful extracts from different …

Extremely scarce, First Edition copy of Slaveholding Examined in Light of the Holy Bible, by William Henry Brisbane (Philadelphia, 1847, 222 pages). Minister, editor, author, and doctor, William Henry Brisbane was a South Carolina slaveholder who turned abolitioni…

An absolutely rare sampler (17"x17") dated June 4th, 1830, signed by it's maker, "Lavinia Wonn." Samplers like this are extremely rare and valuable. Lavinia may have been 8-10 years old when she made this sampler. The archivist of the Oblate Sisters Of Providence,…

Three letters from the American Bar Association written in 1923. Two of these 1923 letters from the American Bar Association to Honorable Christopher T. Callahan of Holyoke, Massachusetts, were written by John E. Hannigan, Boston, MA, State Director, First Distric…

Letter written by Black female settler in Liberia, 1841 to the founder of first School for the Deaf in America (Gallaudett University was later named after him) -- Cover with 2 page letter dated from Cape Palmas, West Africa, Mt. Vaughan (see image below), Sept. 1…

Boston Recorder (April 14, 1821) -- Liberia Mission. "Lott Carey, and Collin Teague, two colored men, preachers, with their families, sailed from Norfolk in January last, in the brig Nautilus with their Bibles, and utensils for necessary labor. The Baptist Board s…

Eight issues of The Southern Workman, published by the Hampton Institute Press, Hampton, VA. [African-American]. April 1907, June 1907, August 1906, May 1920, November 1907, November 1906, July 1920 and May 1903. Some topics covered: Progress of the Negro in 40 Ye…

The Missionary Herald (October, 1858). Contains: Annual report (including some 300 names of members present, foreign missions, etc), News from Gaboon Mission [West Africa], The Rum Trade, French Slave Trade, Assyria Mission, Mosul, Nestorians [Iran], including Oro…

The Gentleman's Magazine, London, October, 1787 -- Within this issue is a page mostly taken up with the creation of a new society "...instituted in Philadelphia consisting of some of the most respectable people in the province of Pennsylvania..." with the introduc…

Extremely rare book, Epochs of American History: Division and Reunion, 1829-1889 (Ninth Edition, with 5 maps) by Woodrow Wilson -- Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University. Published by Longmans, Green & Co., 1898. This volume covers The Slavery Question, …

rogram (January, 2004) from the 4th Annual Negro League Baseball Legacy Awards -- Autographed by 27 former Negro League Players:  Pancho Herera (deceased), William Blair, Ernie "Schoolboy" Johnson, John "Beach" Smith, Mack Pride, Enrique Maroto, Harold Gould, Char…

Extremely rare First Edition "L'Africaine" (The African Maid, 1866) -- Grand Opera in Five Acts (25 pages), Ditson & Co. Standard Opera Libretto, composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer, English and Italian. Chief characters: Vasco di Gama (officer in Portuguese Navy), Seli…

A manuscript bill from Lodowick Updike(?).  January 1802. It's a bill for pay for his work on the Schooner BETSEY. "A voyage to Cape de Verd and else where in the Schooner Betsey. Richard Cornell, Master" For a 10 month and 23 day voyage to and from "Cape de Verd"…

Program listing/picturing Sidney Poitier's broadway debut -- Anna Lucasta (1945). Sidney Poitier was originally engaged as an understudy in the Broadway production of "Anna Lucasta," and, during the run, was promoted to play the role of Rudolph. Joining Mr. Poitie…

Very rare handwritten 22 page speech given by Sarah C. Pennypacker, April 8th, 1899. Her father was the famous Elijah F. Pennypacker, one of the main promoters of the Underground Railroad. The basis of her remarks are a book by Fernando G. Cortland - Southern Hero…

U. S Department of Agriculture Experiment Stations Bulletin 30-39 consisting of articles on many topics, including "Dietary study with reference to the food of the Negro in Alabama in 1895 & 1896" - conducted with the cooperation of the Tuskegee Normal and Industr…

A letter written from Cape Francois (St. Domingo/Hayti) dated March 22, 1801 and published in the May 2, 1801 issue of Poulson's American Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia). Here's what the letter said, "An agent from France, by way of New York, brought an appointmen…

THE JOURNAL OF NEGRO HISTORY. Volume 1, 1916 (462 pages) First Edition -- Carter G. Woodson. Published by The Association For the Study of Negro Life and History, INC, Lancaster, PA and Washington, DC.  A very Rare history containing the first four issues (vol One…

A rare Key to the famous 1860 Lithograph of : "Daniel Webster Addressing the United States Senate in the Great Debate on the Compromise Measures 1850." Measures 22 ¼ x 13 inches. New York: J. M. Edney - A number of the original lithographs have survived, but what …

Authentic slave ball manufactured mid to late 1600s (above, left), with unique handle (approx. 50 lb.), -- used on the known London-based slave ship, Henrietta Marie, the oldest identifiable slave ship wreck in the world (July 1700); featured in National Geographi…

Many newspaper of Le Petit Journal and Journal des Voyages depicting scenes from the French colonies in Africa. Many of the full-size graphic scenes are of bloody uprisings and battles.

Poulson's American Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia newspaper, with interesting articles) April 21, 1836 -- INVENTION BY A NEGRO - A patent given to 29 year-old Henry Blair of Maryland, a free colored man, for a Corn Planter machine now on exhibit at the Capitol - d…

Handwritten letter from Joseph Barrell to John Langdon (June 15th, 1778) -- Joseph Barrell (1793-1804), was a prominent Boston area merchant, fur-trader and owned the first ship to circumnavigate the globe. This letter has great content about the making of the Uni…

Isaac Norris glass slide -- Hand drawn and early – this must surely be an extremely rare slide. It was discovered in a large box of early, hand drawn slides and a lantern. There are no markings on the slide to indicate age or maker. However, there was a slide in t…

Document signed by MARTIN DELANY, Trial Justice in Charleston, South Carolina, 1877. Measures 8 3/4 x 7 inches. African American intellectual Martin Robinson Delany (1812-1885), a journalist, physician, army officer, politician, and judge, is best known for his pr…

Absolutely rare original 4-Page contract (1935) between the Lindy Hoppers and Samuel Goldwyn. Signing twice are George "Shorty" Snowden, Freddie Lewis, Madeline Lewis, Beatrice Gay, Beatrice Elam and Leroy Jones. They were paid $2,500 for a week's service. Researc…

Two-page letter (Jan. 11, 1917) written on Mrs. Booker T. Washington's (Margaret James Murray) own letterhead (Girls' Industries at Tuskegee Institute, AL) and signed by her.
   The Letter reads: My Dear Miss Elliott: I am writing to thank you for the cards, toys &…

Report of the Speeches of Messrs. Frederick Douglass, Henry Clarke Wright & James Buffum -- An extremely rare 32 page report of an anti-slavery soiree held in Dundee, Scotland on March 10th, 1846 by the reporter of the Dundee Courier -- Printed by D. Hill, at the …

Absolutely rare unrecorded 1689 Handwritten Manuscript admonition asserting England's dominion over colonial American trade [William III - King of England]. WE GREET YOU WELL ... from the King of England to ‘OUR PLANTACIONS’ (sic) OF NEW ENGLAND. This is an extrem…

Royal African Company: Official Slave Trade Act of British Parliament, 1750
(I am personally appalled by the stark, business-like manner in which the Royal African Company conducted themselves while developing the following Parliamentary Acts addressing the Slave …

Six busts (below, 8" high) are by African American sculptor/photographer, Inge Hardison (b. 1904) from the "Negro Giants in History" collection created in 1967. Stunning likenesses. Hardison is a sculptor whose major interest is contemporary and historical portrai…

Maps of Africa: Maps of Africa were vital to European slave traders who depended upon the mapmaker's representation of the West African coast for the purposes of navigation -- Clouet (1768) -- Kitchin (1786) -- Chambers (1847) -- Guthrie (1800) -- Noveau Dictionna…

World War II Unit History titled "Workin’ on those Airdromes" An Overseas Report From the 923rd Engineer Aviation Regiment including the 827th Engineer Battalion, 829th Engineer Battalion, the 847th Engineer Battalion, and the 859th Engineer Battalion is soft back…

Countee Cullen -- poet, anthologist, novelist, translator, children's writer, and playwright, Countee Cullen is something of a mysterious figure. He was born March 30th, 1903 (died 1946), but it has been difficult for scholars to place exactly where he was born, w…

Four clay pipes (to the left) depicting people of African descent dated back to the mid 1800s, one British.

-- Bambara Elder's Pipe: To the right is a fine item, approximately 150 years old -- from the Bambara Tribe in Mali, West Africa. This is an elder's or chie…

1858 Slave Life Insurance Policy Receipts from La Providencia (6 different copies, 1858-1859) and La Protectora Insurance Companies -- both in Havana, Cuba. Slavers routinely covered their slaves with life insurance policies. Consequently, they didn't care if they…

A three-volume 1803 English edition (quite rare) of "Travels in Upper and Lower Egypt During the Campaigns of General Bonaparte in That Country", written and illustrated by Vivant Denon, published by T.N. Longman & O. Rees (London). In the spring of 1797, with a d…

Signed letters, photos and other sports memorabilia (Julius Erving, Buck Leonard,  Jack Johnson, Satchel Paige, Harlem Globetrotters (many annual programs, LPs, and other Globetrotter items), Joe Frazier, Ali, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, George Foreman, Negro B…

Over 400 Golden Legacy (Black History) comics in mint condition (most still in original packaging) -- known as "Illustrated History Magazines". Between 1966 and 1976 Bertram Fitzgerald (publisher) produced 16 volumes of Golden Legacy Comics. He left a legacy of hi…

1820s "T Porter" slave button (from Antigua, British West Indies), sewn onto the outer clothing of slaves -- used to identify the owner of the slave.
-- The Chillicothe Recorder (OH, dated Aug 23, 1815). Inside page headline with report on live slaves being thrown …

Abridgement of the Debates of Congress from 1789 to 1856 from Gales and Seaton's Annals of Congress; from Their Register of Debates; and from the Official Reported Debates. By John C. Rives - Vol XII covers the debates of the 22nd Congress, 1832-1836. New York: D.…

Stunning Silver Civil War locket (1860s), containing two tin-type pictures of African American women (looks like mother and daughter), worn by an African American soldier during the Civil War. The locket opens on a hinge to reveal the other tin-type picture. Pictu…

Scarce First Edition of "My Bondage And My Freedom", Part I -- Life As A Slave, Part II -- Life As A Freeman, by Frederick Douglass, with an introduction by Dr. James M'Cune Smith. New York and Auburn: Miller, Orton & Mulligan, 1855. Illustrated with steel engrave…

A First Edition 55-page article entitled, "The Rosetta Stone" in Archaeologia: Miscellaneous Tracts Relating to Antiquity, Volume XVI, published by The Society of Antiquaries of London. 1812. Some of the first published articles about the Rosetta Stone. This is hi…

Many international Slave-related handwritten manuscripts from colonial Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and other parts of South America, Puerto (Porto) Rico and Cuba...most written in Old Spanish -- Dates: 1553, 1567(3 documents), 1597, 1604, 1608, 1609 (2 documents), 16…

Museum quality portrait of John Brown, the famous abolitionist who fought to end slavery prior to the outbreak of the civil war. The reverse of the painting has the information "The Abolitioner, John Brown, born 1800 died 1859". The garland branch motif, at the bo…

Many original 16mm films: The Emancipation Proclamation -- Ethiopia: Ancient Land, Strategic Land -- Negro Slavery -- Sound of Sunshine, Sound of Rain (social propaganda film) -- Jesse Owens: 1936 Olympics -- William: From Georgia To Harlem -- Slavery and Slave Re…

Original 1883 antique engraving (Edmond Ramus) of the "Four Negro Heads" by Flemish painter, Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). Handmade laid paper, watermarked -- Arches. This folio etching with crisp lines and strong plate impression was produced by J. Rouam and Rem…

National Bank of Boston check from Ticknor and Fields (owners of Atlantic Monthly) to Harriet Beecher Stowe (signed Nov. 17, 1863) most probably as payment ($100) for her compelling Atlantic Monthly article (April, 1863), "Sojourner Truth, The Libyan Sibyl".
-- Two…

First Edition copy (1852) of the British "Uncle Tom's Cabin", written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, published by John Cassell before the US edition, illustrated by George Cruikshank with 27 woodcuts.
-- Another First Edition copy of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" published in UK …

Scarce First Edition copy of Stowe’s”A Key To Uncle Tom's Cabin", published in London (1853). It contains 595 pages of the original facts, documents, and corroborative statements upon which the story "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is founded.
-- Five copies of the "Uncle Tom'…

Genuine "Track & Field" ticket stubs and ticket books from the 4 days Jesse Owens won the four gold medals (1936 Olympics in Hitler's Germany), in the actual arena at the four events where Jesse Owens won his four Gold medals...including Opening Day and Closing Da…

A tin that, to put it mildly, is of great historical significance. It is Madame CJ Walker's Glossine with the statement on the front, "For Beatifying and Softening Kinky Hair." Madame CJ Walker was an early industrial pioneer around the time of other industrial ti…

Handwritten letter signed by author of Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas, along with a First Edition set of his major works. Alexandre Dumas was born in Villes-Cotterêts.
BACKGROUND: His grandfather was a French nobleman, who had settl…

One-of-a-kind signed letters/albums/contracts/sheet music from Nat King Cole, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Louis Armstrong, B. B. King, Ethel Waters, Pearl Bailey, Miles Davis, Lindy Hoppers, Sarah Vaughan, Fats Domino, Quincy Jones, Earl Hines…

1. The rare 1838 edition of Phillis Wheatley's Memoir and Poems (Isaac Knapp, Boston, 1773 was the year of the First Edition funded by Selina, Countess of Huntingdon...see below) -- A 28 page memoir of Wheatley by Margaretta Matilda Odell, a collection of Wheatley…

Rare First Edition (1863) copy of Journal of a Residence on a Georgia Plantation in 1838-1839 by Frances Kemble. (four copies of the First Edition are owned by this collection) Born in England to a family of actors and actresses -- the famous theatrical Kemble fam…

Two William Wilberforce signatures (one example seen to the left). Because of this man, slavery ended in England and the abolitionist movement in America was influenced. As a constituency Member of Parliament, he had a lifelong involvement in the campaign to aboli…

 Extremely scarce, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African (1837 edition). Captured far from the African coast when he was a boy of 11, Olaudah Equiano (1745 - 1797) was sold into slavery, later acquired his freedom…

7" figurines of Tom Molineaux and Tom Cribb (repros of Straffordshire -- 3 sets). Born 1784, Tom Molineaux was the first unofficial American Boxing Champion. Tom Molineaux was born a slave but fought his way to freedom and ultimately a shot at the heavyweight titl…

An extremely rare copy of The Verdict March by Eugene L. Blake and published by F. W. Helmick in 1882 (donated by Dr. Joanna Kirkpatrick). Charles Julius Guiteau (September 8, 1841 – June 30, 1882) was an American lawyer who assassinated U.S. President James A. Ga…

Two Manute Bol growth charts. One is signed by Manute Bol, the 7'7" Center for the Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers. Read the tribute Joel Freeman (veteran chaplain for the Washington Bullets/Wizards, '79-'98) wrote about Manute.

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An antique framed engraving. It is of a membership certification to the Troy Conference Missionary Society, an auxiliary to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It is dated June 21st 1852. Signed by Edmund S. Jones (local pastor of State Stre…

Extremely scarce, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African (1837 edition). Captured far from the African coast when he was a boy of 11, Olaudah Equiano (1745 - 1797) was sold into slavery and later acquired his freed…

1829 newspaper from Bermuda - The Royal Gazette - Bermuda Commercial and General Advertiser and Recorder - Hamilton, Bermuda: Donald McPhee Lee (first editor) - No. 37 - Vol. 2, dated Tuesday, September 15, 1829 - this paper was started in 1828 and is still in pro…

2. Wedgwood jasperware Abolitionist, Anti-Slavery cameo medallion (3 medallions in the collection), with the bound slave on the front and the words "Am I Not A Man and A Brother?" around it. From 1787 until his death in 1795, Josiah Wedgwood actively participated …

19th Century painting of a corn-cob-pipe-smoking African American woman who bears a

a remarkable resemblance to the five-foot-tall "Moses" of the Underground Railroad -- Harriet Tubman.

( more comparative photos of the real Harriet Tubman are below )

  A large (1…