Raynor HCA 2014-08
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/7/2014
Fine archive of seven (7) Autograph Letters Signed by various slave traders in the 1840’s pertaining to their trade in human bondage. Includes: ALS by “T. Heatherly” 3pp. quarto, December 19, 1840, Richmond, Virginia, addressed to Doctor M.C. Taylor, Richmond, Kentucky, which reads in part: “...I have been to several jails and found some Negroes at all of them for sale, the prices is not as low as I could wish, but I think money can be made at the prices they are going at. I saw 6 or 8, sold yesterday at auction. I think some of them would have done, but I concluded I would look round a few days before I would begin...The price of negroes as near as I can come at it is about this - likely men is from six to $700 & women from 15 to 20 &25 are at from 4 to $600. Young women are fetching a better price than any other description, children are said to be low, and women with several small children can be had at the old fashion prices. I think of dealing in women and children. Tho it will be very bad to get them home...” Very good condition....plus; ALS by Heatherly to Doctor Taylor, 2pp. quarto, Richmond, Virginia, December 28, 1840, and reads in part: “...I have bought only one negro and that is a man about 20 years of age, he is a boy, such as I think will readily bring eight hundred dollars in Ky. or in the South. I paid six hundred & thirty dollars for him. I think men is selling here lower than any other class, women are fetching from 5 to $650. I have saw a girl of ordinary size and appearance fetch $500 on the block. She was only 12 years old, and other girls that was older fetch $800. No. one women are selling very high, if there is no change in the coarse of a few days here , I shall go to Norfolk. I am told there is a better place to purchase than here...” Very good condition....plus; ALS by Samuel Fox, of Richmond, Kentucky addressed to Giles Saunders, of Richmond, Virginia, 2pp. quarto, January 12, 1847, and reads in part: “...there is a good deal talk from what I can learn among our friends here about your delay and they say the opinion is that you are buying of Negroes and that we had better be very careful how we deal now, so I think the best place for us is for me and Hagins to take the negroes that Hagins brings before March Court to the lower part of this state. I think they can be sold quick anywhere in this state now for I tell you everything is up high here much higher than when you left if you have bought right...I received a letter from Mr. Higgins and they say that Becca and her child Ben is not smart and that they wanted us to take them back or authorise them to sell them and if there should be a loss for us to bear it and if not they would sue us in behalf of the state for importing of them in the state and upon due reflection on consultation with my friends in Lexington, I wrote to them to sell them for the best price they could get...” with list of a couple of dozen named slaves with corresponding costs on verso. Fine condition....plus; ALS by Giles Saunders in Richmond, Virginia to Samuel Fox, in Richmond, Kentucky, March 9, 1847, 2pp. quarto, and reads in part: “...I bought one woman & child I gave 500 dollars. I think she is a good bargain. I can sell her for 600 if not 650. I don’t know if I shall do it. I was offered today fifty dollars & a pair of horses profit for the negro woman, I wrote to you about some time ago. The horses is well worth a 100 if not more...you never saw the way young negroes is selling your life. I never did in my life but I mean to stick to them. I think I can hold my hand with them I can make some while they make a good deal. You must try & sell as fast as you can. I intend to sell from this out when ever I can do well. I have seven on hand now & all are likely & well laid in. I intend if I can’t buy in a few days to send what I have to you...I now come to a close by saying I have made the above trade I spoke of I get 80 dollars & a pair of horses profit for the woman....” Fine condition...plus; ALS by Giles Saunders to Samuel Fox, 2pp. quarto, March 21, 1847, and reads in part: “...I sent my cousin James Saunders with seven head to you...I bought a man yesterday & sold him to Tate for 40 dollars profit. I since James Saunders left bought one little girl at $125 but I shall not buy any more as small...Little plow boys is worth from 500 to 600, girls from 12 years to 15 & 16 is worth from 600 to 800 & little negroes is worth anything you will ask all most. There has been several traders left here & not bought more here now than I ever saw at one time....I think I sent you seven mighty cheap negroes I could. I think I could of sold them here & made a hundred on the head. I think though they will sell for a good deal more at home. I can’t buy any more at the same prices I sent you 4 boys one woman with child & one woman with a likely boy all is likely & cheap...” Very good condition....plus; ALS by Samuel Fox to Giles Saunders, 1pp. quarto, April 17, 1848, and reads in part: “...I have sold all the negroes to S, Jim, William, Henry, Patience, and Elvira, all of which have done well with which you will see by letter before this average over $100 profit on the head. I have no fears but I shall do as well with balance that I have on hand. There a smart demand in the country, the traders are very cautious, Pullium is not buying at all. There several traders about Lexington, there is no doubt of the decline of negroes below. Pullium thinks there will be a further decline still he wont touch noting until cotton settles at some price then he will be a buyer...My opinion is we had better be cautious...” fine condition....plus; ALS by Giles Saunders, in Charleston, South Carolina, to Samuel Fox, 1pp. quarto, February 28, 1849, in part: “...I have not much to write you. Times is hard certain I understand negroes is much higher than last year...” Fine condition...plus; ALS by Giles Saunders to Samuel Fox, 2pp. quarto, May 18, 1849, I have bought two men & sold them again one I sold for 55 profit the other I bought when I was in New Kent the other day & sold today for $300 profit. I am doing the best I can but I never saw a time before but what i could buy faster than I can now for they come in slow & very few that suits our market but I think I know what does suit as well as anybody & what to give for them to make on them. I think it never will do to buy if we can’t make 100 gross on them...” Fine condition. An incredible account of slave buying and selling with listed prices and expectations for these inter-state slave traders. (7 items)
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