Page 94 - Swann Galleries - Printed & Manuscript African Americana- Sale 2308 - March 21, 2013

148 ● (SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.)
STOWE,HARRIET BEECHER. The
Original “Uncle Tom.” [Rev. Josiah
Henson.] Large cabinet photograph, sepia
tone, 65 ⁄
8 x51⁄
8 inches (image); photographer’s
mount with Henson’s story on the reverse.
Philadelphia: E.H. Hart, circa 1880’s
[600/800]
A portrait of the man whom Harriet Beecher
Stowe used as the model for her “Uncle Tom.”
Josiah Henson was born in Charles County,
Maryland, Junes 13th, 1789. Henson was so
trusted by his master Isaac Reilly that he
helped Reilly avoid the seizure of his prop-
erty—himself and 21 other slaves—by the
sheriff. Henson took the slaves from Maryland
to Kentucky where Reilly’s brother lived. He
later returned to Reilly and bought his freedom,
but was then sent to New Orleans by Reilly’s
brother who sold him. One can see why Stowe
chose him as the model for her “Uncle Tom.”
147 ● (SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.)
STOWE, HARRIET BEECHER. [R.
RIDGWAY.] A pale grey-green
stoneware china creamer. 61⁄2 x 4 inches,
with a hinged pewter top; the sides covered
with two scenes from Uncle Tom’s Cabin:
one Little Eliza escaping with her baby
across the ice floes, and the other side a
slave auction. EXQUISITELY DETAILED,
SHOULD BE SEEN.
London: Ridgway & Abington, circa 1853
[2,000/3,000]
A rare and beautiful pitcher or creamer with
scenes from Uncle Tom’s Cabin.The pewter lid
shows a slave praying, while both sides of the
creamer show scenes relating to Mrs. Stowe’s
immensely popular novel: A family of slaves on
the auction block on one side and Eliza and
her baby fleeing across the ice floes on the other.
A prime example of the far-reaching influence
of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.Within the year 1852,
three different British publishers issued three
distinct editions, the combined sales of which
came to one million copies, more than three
times the number of American copies sold. Over
a century before the concept of “branding,” there
were all sorts of things made that carried the
Uncle Tom’s cabin theme.
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