[LIBERIA]. COX, James. Autograph letter signed ("James Cox"). Harper, Camp Palmas, Liberia, 10-11 January 1859. Settler's letter with content regarding slavery and cannibalism.
Sale 1118 - African Americana
Feb 28, 2023
10:00AM ET
Live / Cincinnati
Estimate
$500 -
$700
Sold for $1,008
Sold prices are inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot Description
[LIBERIA]. COX, James. Autograph letter signed ("James Cox"). Harper, Camp Palmas, Liberia, 10-11 January 1859. Settler's letter with content regarding slavery and cannibalism.
4 pages, 4to, 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 in., with original envelope stamped "Baltimore / Md/ / May 2", "SHIP", and "5" in blue, minor toning, light creasing.
Written by a Liberian colonist, he writes two letters on the same bifolium regarding his life in Africa, detailing his lodgings and noting that in Web Country, "the people are canables [sic] that is they eat their prisoners who they take in war."
He includes an anecdote of a French slave trader: "A few days ago there was [a] French vessel at garlinas buying up slaves. She was loaded by an officer of this republic who asked the Capt. what he was doing there. he said he was buying slaves.. the officer told him that it was against the laws of this republic to deal slaves and also ask him did he not know that it was against the laws of the nations." Continuing that the inquisitor paid 40 francs to free a young boy.
This lot is located in Cincinnati.
Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Broadsides, Ephemeral Americana, and Historical Documents
Condition Report
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