Description:

Slavery
various, ca. 1832-1862
Group of (4) Slavery-Related Artifacts, Docs & Currency from SC, LA, TX & AL Incl. Chilling 1844 Charleston Slave Hire Badge
Archive
An archive of manuscript materials, printed documents, and artifacts related to the practice of slavery in the American South, from the antebellum period through the first years of the Civil War, ca. 1832-1862. Various places including Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas, and Alabama. The lot consists of: a French-language slave tax payment receipt from New Orleans, Louisiana dated May 1, 1832; a slave hire badge from Charleston, South Carolina from the year 1844; a slave contract from Jackson County, Texas dated March 3, 1847; and a $100 bill of Confederate States of America currency depicting enslaved field hands hoeing, issued in Montgomery, Alabama, ca. November 20, 1862. Expected minor condition issues will be elaborated below but is overall near fine. The largest item unfolded measures 7.375" x 12.375; folded measures 7.375" x 9.25." Four pieces total.

The lot is comprised of, in chronological order:

1. A 1p French-language slavery tax receipt document, partly manuscript and partly printed, number 455. May 1, 1832. New Orleans, Louisiana. With "Trésorerie de la Ville" ["City Treasury"] letterhead. The receipt confirms that a slave-owner named "Mme Veuve Fletcher" ["M[ada]me Widow Fletcher"] has paid the city of New Orleans the amount of 1 piastre and 20 cents for the "1832 Tax on the proprieties and Slaves mentioned in the other part, in compliance with City Council rules…" Signed and countersigned at bottom right and docketed verso. Flattened paper folds and isolated ink bleed-through not affected the legibility of the text. 7" x 3."

2. A diamond-shaped hammered copper slave hire badge, serial number 1877, for an enslaved servant for the year 1844. Charleston, South Carolina. Punch-stamped from top to bottom with the city, serial number, occupation, and year as: "Charleston / 1877 / Servant / 1844." 2.375" x 2.5." Accompanied by a laminated copy of a COA from Numismatic Conservation Services, LLC, deeming the badge as "Genuine."

Slave hire badges were used in Charleston, South Carolina between 1783-1790 and from 1800-1865 to regulate the per diem contract work of enslaved Black laborers. Badges (which were diamond-shaped, round, cruciform, or square in shape) indicated the enslaved person's occupation, such as servant, porter, carpenter, mechanic, blacksmith, brick mason, fisherman, or fruit vendor. The slave hire badges accomplished multiple objectives: physically branding enslaved persons with a marker or badge helped the city to surveil the enslaved population; enslaved persons could not pass for free Blacks; and white laborers could be placed on a higher tier of the hierarchy of manual labor.

3. A 1p manuscript document relating to a slave hire contract. March 3, 1847. Jackson County, Texas. On partly lined ledger paper, docketed verso. Expected flattened paper folds, ghost ink impressions, and isolated ink smearing. Trimmed along the right edge. 7.375" x 12.375; folded measures 7.375" x 9.25."

J.B. Sealy and John S. Menifee agreed to an 11-month contract of Sealy's "man Tom" between March 3, 1847 - February 1, 1848, with stipulations regarding clothing, doctor's bills if applicable, and two rental payments in the amounts of $50 and $50.47. In part: "…J.B. Sealy on his [part] agrees to let John S. Menifee have his man Tom from this time untill the first day of February next he the said Sealy being responsible for Doctors bills in case of sickness of the said negro man Tom…"

4. A $100 bill of Confederate States of America currency, serial number 62064, dated November 20, 1862. [Montgomery, Alabama.] The central vignette at top depicts three enslaved persons doing agricultural work, probably in a cotton field. Countersigned by a Register and Treasurer. Handstamped verso with three stamps indicating the original issue date; along with two payments of interest, one from January 1863 and one from January 1865. Expected clerical marks and light wear. 7.25" x 3."

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: largest: 7.375" x 12.375"
  • Medium: Archive

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March 12, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
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University Archives

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