Mar 26, 2015 - Sale 2377

Sale 2377 - Lot 82

Price Realized: $ 40,000
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 7,000 - $ 10,000
THREE WAY ASSOCIATION [PORTER, SAMUEL]; FREDERICK DOUGLASS. Autograph Letter Signed attesting to the character of Harriet Tubman and "her service in the anti-slavery cause and also in behalf of the cause of the war in Beaufort and elsewhere." Addressed to Maria Porter as treasurer of the Rochester Ladies Anti-Slavery Society, and co-signed by frederick douglass. Single 4to leaf, written on one side; creases where folded; slight soil. Rochester, 25 October, 1864

Additional Details

an extraordinary letter with a three-way association. Samuel Porter was the younger brother of Maria and Sarah Porter, founders of the Rochester Ladies Anti-Slavery Society. All of them were active conductors on the Underground Railway. Here, Samuel writes to sister Maria, treasurer of the Society, saying that the "undersigned"--he and Frederick Douglass, have both read a testimonial regarding the service of Harriet Tubman, "and think an appropriation from the funds of your Society to her would be a proper use . . .of the funds in your hands. S.D. Porter," and beneath that the following day "October 26th 1864 Frederick Douglass." Harriet Tubman was active as a nurse and a spy at this time, and the money was probably needed for her activities. The Rochester Ladies Anti-Slavery Society were active conductors for the Underground Railroad, held fairs and sponsored talks by Frederick Douglass, Gerrit Smith and others, and in 1853 published the first of two volumes titled "Autographs For Freedom," collections of anti-slavery essays, and narratives edited by Julia Griffiths.