African Americana February 2021

African Americana February 2021

Reflecting on the depth and significance of Black history and culture,  James Cummins Bookseller is proud to offer a selection from our fine inventory of African Americana, including important 18th and 19th century abolitionist works and iconography of the movement, to material relating to 20th century politics and entertainment. Highlights include the first American edition of the influential slave ship engraving, Clara Barton's autograph manuscript memorial to Congress to assist freedmen, Armistead's classic Abolitionist work in a deluxe issue with provenance to a freed slave, and more. 

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Item #320363 Photograph signed and inscribed in the image ("Louis 'Satchmo' Armstrong), to Jackie...

Inscribed

Photograph signed and inscribed in the image ("Louis 'Satchmo' Armstrong), to Jackie "Moms" Mabley, "Best wishes to Jackie Mabley, my...

Inscribed. "Moms" Mabley (1894-1975) was the preeminent African American female comedian from the mid-20th century, and opened for Louis Armstrong on several occasions. A fabulous association between two of the most important African-American performers of the period. Read More about Photograph signed and inscribed in the image ("Louis 'Satchmo' Armstrong), to Jackie...

Price: $2,500

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Item #313382 Autograph letter signed ("John Brown, Jr.") to Gerrit Smith, with autograph document...

John Brown, Jr., writes to one of the Secret Six

Autograph letter signed ("John Brown, Jr.") to Gerrit Smith, with autograph document signed, both concerning land in Essex County, New...

Jefferson, Ashtabula Co. Ohio: August 6, 1861. John Brown, Jr., writes to one of the Secret Six. John Brown, Jr. (1825-1895), the eldest son the abolitionist John Brown, writes to Gerrit Smith, one of the "Secret Six" who helped finance the raid on Harper's Ferry. Brown writes to renege on..... Read More about Autograph letter signed ("John Brown, Jr.") to Gerrit Smith, with autograph document...

Price: $2,500

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Item #314742 Uncle Remus His Songs and His Sayings The Folk-Lore of the Old Plantation. Joel...

Uncle Remus His Songs and His Sayings The Folk-Lore of the Old Plantation.

New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1881. First edition, first state, with "presumptive" for "presumptuous" in the last line, p. 9, and with no mention of this book in the ads at the back of the book. Attractive copy of this American classic. "The instant success of this first Uncle..... Read More about Uncle Remus His Songs and His Sayings The Folk-Lore of the Old Plantation

Price: $2,500

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Item #266837 Pen and Ink Drawing: 2 vignette scenes of black men and women for "Mrs. Stowe's...

Pen and Ink Drawing: 2 vignette scenes of black men and women for "Mrs. Stowe's Uncle Tom at home in...

New York: Oct. 1887. Kemble, E. W. Edward Windsor Kemble (1861-1933) is best-known for his superb illustrations of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn and Puddin’ Head Wilson, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin and several of Joel Chandler Harris’ Uncle Remus stories. He was a self-taught artist, whose work “reveals a...... Read More about Pen and Ink Drawing: 2 vignette scenes of black men and women for "Mrs. Stowe's Uncle Tom at...

Price: $650

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Item #313227 Report of the Case of Edward Prigg against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Argued...

Report of the Case of Edward Prigg against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Argued and Adjudged in the Supreme Court of...

Philadelphia: stereotyped by L. Johnson, 1842. First edition. First edition of this report of this monumental Supreme Court decision regarding escaped slaves, preceding by 15 years and rivaling in importance the Dred Scott case of 1857. "In Prigg, the Court identified slavery as a core constitutional commitment with which states..... Read More about Report of the Case of Edward Prigg against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Argued and Adjudged...

Price: $1,250

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Item #320278 [Harvard Class of 1866 Photographic Yearbook]. George Kendall Warren, photographer

[Harvard Class of 1866 Photographic Yearbook].

[Cambridge: 1866]. George Kendall Warren (1824-1884) was a distinguished northeastern landscape photographer and the most highly-regarded collegiate yearbook photographer to elite northeastern institutions: Dartmouth, Williams, Brown, Weslyan, Yale, Princeton, Rutgers, West Point, Union, and Harvard. Notable portraits include Gov. Andrew, President Hill, Professers Louis Agassiz, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., Evangelinus..... Read More about Harvard Class of 1866 Photographic Yearbook

Price: $4,500

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Item #314777 Photograph signed ("Ethel Waters") and inscribed, from the Broadway production of...

Photograph signed ("Ethel Waters") and inscribed, from the Broadway production of Mamba's Daughters.

1939. Inscribed photograph of African-American television, theater, and film pioneer, Ethel Waters (1896-1977), depicting her in one of her most famous roles, and inscribed: "To Alice with the same devotion Hagar has for Lissa and you have for Natalie, I have for you Ethel Waters." The photograph shows Waters as..... Read More about Photograph signed ("Ethel Waters") and inscribed, from the Broadway production of...

Price: $2,500

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Item #318658 Autograph letter signed to Lucy Larcom. John Greenleaf Whittier

On Emancipation Proclamation

Autograph letter signed to Lucy Larcom.

Amesbury, [Mass.]: [December 19, 1863]. On Emancipation Proclamation. A Fine letter from John Greenleaf Whittier to fellow poet Lucy Larcom, praising President Lincoln's commitment to the Emancipation Proclamation through his recently delivered State of the Union address (December 8, 1863), also known as the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction. After..... Read More about Autograph letter signed to Lucy Larcom

Price: $1,750

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