Description:

Slave Ship "Brookes" Engraving of Proper "Packing" Technique, 1808

1p, measuring 19" x 12", Philadelphia, dated 1808. Published by J.P. Parke. An engraving meant to "face page 91" within a larger volume, depicting seven figures demonstrating the "correct" way to transport slaves aboard the ship so as to fit as many as possible. The engraving depicts 482 men, women, and children tightly packed within the three levels of the slave ship "Brookes" (or "Brook" or "Brookes"). With light to moderate toning, more evident at the edges. Foxing and light soiling throughout. There is a 2" tear at the left edge. Some chipping and paper loss at the corners and bottom edge. Ink is still bold and clear.

The "Brookes" was a British slave ship built at Liverpool and launched in 1781. Between 1782 to 1804 she ran 11 slave-trading voyages. When prints such as these were published in 1788, the "Brookes" became infamous with the British public. Records show that this same vessel transported as many as 609 people, making it no stretch of the imagination to understand why nearly one-third of the slaves died on the first leg of the journey across the Middle Passage. The transatlantic voyage from Africa to America could take anywhere from one to six months, and an estimated 15% of the captured Africans died at sea as illness spread quickly within the tight quarters. Slaves suffered from dysentery, scurvy, smallpox, and measles, as well as starvation. This engraving, along with others like it, were used by abolitionists as the lasting image of the horrors and inhumanity of the slave trade.

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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May 26, 2021 10:30 AM EDT
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