309

Circular letter with four petitions issued by the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society.

New York, February 1850
2 printed pages, 13½ x 8¼ inches, on one folding sheet, with address panel on verso of one page, signed in type by Arthur Tappan and twelve others as the Executive Committee of the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society; partial separations at folds, minor dampstaining, extensive unrelated manuscript written in margins and on blank versos; addressed to Charles Hurd of Londonderry, NH, with inked Concord, NH postmark dated 8 May. 

This circular letter is addressed "to each Friend of Liberty in the United States." It urges opponents of slavery "to awaken our citizens to the momentous importance of the present crisis, and to unite them in one loud and urgent demand on their representatives to grant the prayers of our petitions." It accuses the slave states of the empty threat of secession: "To attain success, resort is had to threats of dissolution--threats which . . . if carried into execution would result in the ruin of the masters and the liberation of the slaves. Should the effort now fail, Slavery will never hereafter acquire sufficient strength to pass its present limits, and the world will in time be delivered from one of the direst scourges that has ever afflicted humanity." 

Attached are the texts of four petitions, intended to each be attached to a sheet of lined paper, circulated, and sent to Congress: "To Secure to alleged Fugitives the Right of Trial by Jury"; "For the Repeal of all Laws . . . for the support of Slavery in the District of Columbia"; "Against the Admission of more Slave States into the Union"; and "For the Establishment and Protection of Freedom in the Territories of the United States." Some of these completed petitions were received in Washington and read into the official Congressional record. 

New Hampshire farmer Charles Hurd was the recipient of this circular; we find no other evidence that he was involved in the anti-slavery cause. He did not use the circular to gather any signatures. Somebody (likely Hurd) used it as scrap paper to draft a letter to Abbott, Jenks & Co., who from 1852 onward were editors of the Manchester American & Messenger. The letter is a strident anti-Catholic screed, unrelated to the circular contents.

No examples of this circular traced at auction, and only one found in OCLC (American Antiquarian Society).

  • Condition: Please contact the Specialist for the auction to request a condition report.

    Condition reports and additional images are provided as a courtesy and should be used by you to aid in the formation of your own opinion regarding condition. All material is sold subject to Swann's standard Terms and Conditions of Sale as published in our catalogues and posted on our website, and include the following terms: (1) all property is sold "as-is"; and (2) works cannot be returned on the basis of condition.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Upon request, Swann will facilitate the shipping of purchases to out-of-town buyers at an additional charge for packing, shipping and insurance, but will not be responsible for any loss, damage or delay resulting from the packing, handling and shipping thereof. Unless specific instructions are received, Swann is the sole judge of the method to be used for shipment. Packing and shipping costs will be noted on the invoice mailed to successful bidders after the sale, and are based on the actual costs involved. Be advised that a full commercial invoice must accompany any purchase shipped outside the US.

Swann Auction Galleries

You agree to pay a buyer’s premium, as outlined below, and any applicable taxes and shipping.
Buyer's Premium
$0 - $100,000:
27.00%
$100,001 - $1,000,000:
22.00%
$1,000,001+:
12.00%

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $149 $10
$150 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $5,999 $200
$6,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 $499,999 $20,000
$500,000 + $50,000