Auctions@EarlyAmerican.com
Phone: 858-759-3290
Type in Your EMAIL Address
to Receive Notices
of Important Events

Auctions
• SATURDAY - MAR. 30th
• Terms of Sale
• Print Out a Bid Form
Links to Other Sites:
• Tortuga Trading
This Auction is Now OPEN for Bidding
Closing LIVE ONLINE: SATURDAY • March 30th • Starting at 9:00 AM Pacific Time
Absentee Bidding on a Specific Lot Will Remain OPEN
Until the LIVE BIDDING begins for that Specific Lot on SATURDAY • March 30th
Lot Number: 218
Sign-in to Bid or Register to Bid
Click for a Printable Page
Estimate Range: $3,000 - $4,000
Current Bidding Status
Register or Sign-In to Bid
Estimate Range
$3,000 - $4,000
Next Available Bid
$2,200
Bids MUST match our Standard Increment Levels.
CLICK HERE to see a chart of Standard Increment Levels.
1807 “AFRICA - AMERICA” Anti-Slavery Reverse Painted Mezzotint Print on Glass Housed in its Original Frame

Click an Image to Enlarge It
August 20, 1807-Dated Published, Reverse Glass Painted Mezzotint, depicting “AFRICA - AMERICA,” Published by W.B. Walker, London, “AFRICA” holding a Spear and Document reading, “Slave Trade Abolish'd 1806” and “AMERICA” holding an American Flag and pointing to a printed Memorial Portrait of Washington and Franklin, Original Frame, Fine.

This 1807 "AFRICA - AMERICA" Anti-Slavery Reverse Painted Print on Glass, published by W.B. Walker in London on August 20, 1807, is a significant Black History artifact of the Abolitionist movement. The year 1807 marked an important milestone in the Abolition of the transatlantic Slave trade. On March 25, 1807, the British Parliament passed the “Abolition of the Slave Trade Act”, which prohibited the trading of enslaved Africans in the British Empire. This print was created in the same year to commemorate and promote the Abolitionist cause, in its ongoing struggle in America. Typically, earlier vintage “AFRICA” would be portrayed in chains being oppressed. In this rendition, “AFRICA” stands tall and proud holding his Spear and the decree “Slave Trade Abolish'd 1806.”

The images on the 10” x 14” glass are classic for the turn of the 19th Century, depicting a noble African Chieftain standing in front of his hut, a crocodile seen in the water behind, with his spear in his left hand while holding a document with the message reading: “SLAVE TRADE Abolish’d 1806” is held with his right hand. To the right is the classic portrayal of the Indian Princess representing “America” who stands tall, holding a early tasseled American Flag attached to a pike. She points to her right at the portraits of two figures, appearing to be George Washington, the other a young Ben Franklin (both then deceased). Above her shoulder a large snake climbs a tree and hovers, a symbol of the evil potential for treacherous results for the continuation of the Slave trade in America. These proud and noble images celebrate the freedom from Slavery enjoyed by the Africans when Britain ended its Slave trade in 1806, and sends a strong Anti-Slavery message to all Americans.

A remarkable illustration of Anti-Slavery Americana. Considering the fragile handmade early pane of glass and the many colors used. In our EAHA Auction of April 26, 1997 we offered Lot 875 graded Choice Extremely Fine, being so nice in quality, it became our cover illustration for that auction catalog, selling for $10,925. This current example is the same item grading Fine. The imagery is all present, yet not as sharp and distinct as in the 1997 cover piece. The current example has solid unbroken glass with good colors but has yellowed in background tone and the fine black text on the Chieftain’s “document” and for the maker’s information are worn and difficult to read. Regardless, it remains housed in its original vintage somewhat worn wood frame with back-panel, measuring fully to 11.75” x 16” being ready to hang on display.
Keywords:
Lot Number: 218
Sign-in to Bid or Register to Bid
Click for a Printable Page
Estimate Range: $3,000 - $4,000
Early American
1520 Commerce St., # 312 • Winchester, VA 22601
Phone: 858 • 759 • 3290
Email: Auctions@EarlyAmerican.com