Raynors 2012-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/27/2012
Newspaper, a complete and authentic issue of The Liberator, Boston, December 26, 1845, 4pp, archival tape repair to front page, minor discoloration. Frederick Douglass published his first book, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,” in mid 1845. Douglass' friends and mentors feared that the publicity would draw the attention of his ex-owner, Hugh Auld, who might try to get his "property" back. They encouraged Douglass to tour Ireland, as many former slaves had done. Douglass set sail on the Cambria for Liverpool on August 16, 1845, and arrived in Ireland as the Irish Potato Famine was beginning. This newspapers contains two important Douglass reports. From the second page running nearly a full column, “Anti-Slavery Soiree. MR. DOUGLASS, THE AMERICAN SLAVE.” In very small part, “Mr Douglass then rose and was received with loud cheers. ..If he was now in America he would be his master’s property, and be liable to be sold as merchandize. ... Oh what a transition it was to be changed from the state of a slave to that of a freeman! ... Again he was not there to speak against the American government, but to try to bring under their notice American slavery, and to try to make America like any other Christian country in the world. ... He then alluded to the various battles won for America by negro blood, and depicted in glowing colors the base ingratitude with which they were rewarded. ...” Then from the front page, “Abolition Riot on board the British Steamer Cambria, in August Last.” In part, “There can be no doubt Judkins meant to insult his American passengers ...some of them objected to his ringing the bell without notice of cause, to call them on deck to hear a negro named Douglass, slander and libel his country, by gross misrepresentations about its laws and institutions. No man of common sense .. could suffer his passengers thus to be insulted by a miserable negro ...” Later, in Douglass’ second book, he refers to the incident, saying the passengers were from Louisiana and actually threatened to throw him overboard.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.