Page 133 - Swann Galleries - Printed & Manuscript African Americana- Sale 2308 - March 21, 2013

227 ● (BUSINESS DIRECTORIES—HARLEM.) Salute Who’s Who Beauty
Directory 1945-46. Better Business Guide Inc presents its annual award to the
beauticians of Greater New York . . . Thursday Evening February 21st Golden
Gate Ballroom, 142nd Lenox Avenue. Large double-page centerfold of all of the offi-
cials of the Better Business Circle plus other illustrations. 28 pages. 4to, original pictorial
yellow wrappers. New York, 1946 [400/600]
Syd Pollock, owner-manager of the famous Indianapolis Clowns writes to scout Ed Scott
regarding Hank Aaron’s recommendation of Corneil Jiles. A letter with excellent content.
Edward Scott (1917-2010) was the first African-American talent-scout in the history of
Major League Baseball, and before that, a talent-spotter for the Negro leagues. It was Scott who
signed Hank Aaron, Baseball Hall of Famer and future home run king, to Aaron’s first profes-
sional contract for the Indianapolis Clowns at $200 a month.
228 ● (BUSINESS DIRECTORIES—MARYLAND.) Houston’s New, Improved
and Enlarged Baltimore City Directory: To which is Appended A Business
Directory of this City and State . . . Numerous engraved advertisements; several
inserted pieces of advertising. 582, [1]-122, [1]-25 pages, plus 4 unnumbered leaves of
advertisements on tinted paper. Large, thick 4to, Library of Congress duplicate in later
Library of Congress buckram binding with small bookplate and stamp.
Baltimore: Houston & Co., (1867) [1,000/1,500]
FIRST EDITION OF ONE OF THE EARLIEST CITY GUIDES TO LIST ITS COLORED RESI-
DENTS AND THEIR BUSINESSES IN A SEPARATE SECTION. Houston’s contains forty-seven
pages of “Colored Persons,” an exceptional directory within this larger directory. Baltimore’s free
black community was the largest in the nation at this time. While many men and women were
employed as domestics in one capacity or another, there are numerous listings of businesses such
as the Bailey brothers, tavern owners, William Becker, a piano maker, James Tumey “coffee
roaster,” John Conklin, cigar-maker, or this intriguing one “Samuel Pritchard, Ice Cream and
Oysters.” Many men, apparently Civil War veterans are simply listed as “soldier” or “sailor.”
A valuable prime resource for genealogical study. RARE, only two copies located: Library of
Congress and New York Public Library.
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