Seth Kaller, Inc.

Inspired by History

African American

This catalog of original documents relating to Black History features pieces of the highest rarity and merit for collection, research, and exhibition. They illustrate some of the most opressive as well as inspiring facets of American History. You will see Phillis Wheatley’s poetry, records of slave sales and slave uprisings, and documents related to the Underground Railroad, the abolitionist movement, and Civil Rights publications. 

You will also find Charles Langston, recently imprisoned after a slave rescue, declaring “Liberty and humanity to me have no particular location, no Color, no Country.” John Brown plans “a mighty conquest.” Frederick Douglass writing that “the right to personal freedoom” is the most basic of all rights.  Presidential opinions on slavery, Revolutionary and Civil War documents.  Nearly a century later, Jackie Robinson discusses the “Negro vote,” and Alex Haley’s research archive and manuscript drafts for Roots and an as yet unpublished book help to inspire our nation.
# Article Title
1 A Plea to the Military Governor of Arkansas and Mississippi, to Help a Freedman
2 African-American Union Soldier Holding Rifle
3 Amistad
4 Bill of Sale for a Mulatto Slave
5 Black Veteran Loses Property to a Corrupt Claim Agent
6 Boston Congregational Society Sermons
7 Candidate W. H. Harrison Spells Out Position on “The Vexed Question” of Slavery’s Expansion
8 Charles Sumner Writes to a Fellow Abolitionist
9 Civil War Era African-American Tintype
10 Col. Haldiman Sumner Putnam, Three Months Before his Death Charging with the 54th Mass. at Fort Wagner, Writes of the Naval Bombardment of Charleston, the Burning of Jacksonville, and Black Troops
11 Col. Isaac Shepard Authorizes Recruitment of 1st Mississippi Regt. African Descent (Former Slaves)
12 Connecticut Representative on J.Q. Adams’ Abolition Petition
13 Cuff Liberty- Revolutionary War Black Soldier
14 Fighting the Expansion of Slavery, Lincoln Proposes His Best Man for Congress
15 Four Slave Sale Documents from Louisiana, 1835-1857, Including Some across State Lines
16 Four Years Prior to Signing the Declaration, R.I.’s Stephen Hopkins Declares His Slave’s Independence
17 Frederick Douglass Acknowledges a Letter Complimenting him on his Work
18 Frederick Douglass and Elizabeth Cady Stanton – before Parting Ways
19 Frederick Douglass Contemplates “moving on to the silent continent” a Month Before his Death
20 Frederick Douglass Counsels a Friend
21 Frederick Douglass Encourages Writing on John Brown
22 Frederick Douglass Longs to Return to America as a Free Man
23 Frederick Douglass Prepares Address on the Annexation of Santo Domingo
24 Frederick Douglass Quotes John Greenleaf Whittier While Sending Condolences on the Death of “a devoted friend of the slave in the darkest hour of their cause.”
25 Frederick Douglass Sends Condolences on the Death of an Abolitionist Friend
26 Frederick Douglass Stands His Ground, Discouraging the "Exodus" Movement
27 Frederick Douglass’ 1st Autobiography, Narrative of the Life, F. Gertrude Page’s Copy
28 Frederick Douglass’ Appraisal of John Brown
29 Frederick Douglass’s Changing Views of his Enemies
30 George Washington Contracts to Train his Slaves in Carpentry
31 Haitian Slave Uprising in 1791
32 Hiring of a "boy, Jim"
33 Horace Greeley on Publication of a Letter by Abolitionist Cassius Clay
34 Iconic - and Disturbing - Slave Ship Illustration
35 Jackie Robinson Reflects on the Importance of “the Negro Vote” in Nixon’s Loss to Kennedy
36 James Madison Signed Membership Form as President of American Colonization Society
37 Jefferson’s Religious Stance against Slavery
38 Philadelphia Slavery - Reynold Keen Letter
39 Phillis Wheatley’s Strongest Published Statement on Slavery
40 Richard Hildreth’s Despotism in America Inscribed by Wendell Phillips To a Famous Union Colonel
41 Sale of Slave Girl Rachel in Washington D.C. 1830
42 Ship’s Manifest Listing A Slave, Mentioning Constitutional Ban On Importation After 1808
43 The African-American Paul Revere
44 The Amistad: an Arresting Engraving of the Revolt
45 The Northwest Ordinance – Rare 1787 Printing
46 The Thirteenth Amendment
47 The Tracking, Capture and Escape of a Runaway South Carolina Slave in Kentucky
48 Washington Crossing the Delaware
49 Washington’s Emancipation of His Slaves – His Will as Described by John Butcher
50 ‘Father of the Underground Railroad’ Challenges Slander
51 “Black bellied Yankees” at The Battle of Fort Blakely
52 “Emancipation, 1863-1963, Proud Americans”
53 “Fort Pillow Massacre”
54 “Our Colored Brother” Comes Up to Bat with the 15th Amendment
55 “The death of Patience, a Negro woman”
56 “[I]t was my good fortune to be born and brought up … where negro slavery never existed, except in theory.”