Mar 20 at 10:30 AM - Sale 2697 -
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Sale 2697 - Lot 357

Estimate: $ 25,000 - $ 35,000
(SLAVERY.) [McPherson & Oliver; photographers.] [The Scourged Back.] Albumen photograph, 3¼ x 2 inches, on original mount with original facsimile text on verso; minor wear. Baton Rouge, LA, circa 1863
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Additional Details

One of the most iconic images of slavery. After repeated beating and whippings at a Louisiana plantation, Gordon escaped from slavery and made his way to a Union camp at Baton Rouge, where he joined the army as a private. A camp photographer took a series of photographs which graphically demonstrated the brutality he had endured. The present photograph was the best known. It was engraved for the 4 July 1863 issue of Harper's Weekly, where it ran over the caption "Gordon Under Medical Inspection."

This example has extensive printed text on verso: "From Life, Taken at Baton Rouge, la., April 2d 1863. Camp Parapet, La., Aug'st 4th 1863. I have found a large number of the four hundred contrabands examined by me to be as badly lacerated as the specimen represented in the enclosed photograph. Very respectfully yours, F.W. Mercer, Asst. Surgeon 47th M.V." Fac-simile of Original Official Report to Col. L.B. Marsh." This variant is particularly scarce; we find only one other example at auction, in 2009.

Provenance: found in a carte-de-visite album which had apparently belonged to the abolitionist governor of Massachusetts, John A. Andrew. The remainder of the album will appear in Swann's June 12 Americana auction.

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