Mar 30, 2017 - Sale 2441

Sale 2441 - Lot 17

Price Realized: $ 3,120
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 800 - $ 1,200
(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION.) RELIGION. Slave Family Bible. 1821 Mathew Carey large family Bible. Original full calf; considerable foxing, especially to the plates. Philadelphia, 1821

Additional Details

While this Bible is typical, with the family register appearing between the Old and the New Testaments; there are only a few entries for the Master and Mistress's family, while a number of the births of their 'Servants,' as they are politely referred to are noted. They are all surnamed Ash, with the exception of Fanny and William Pinion. Beneath all the names, is a note 'To Be Manumitted in 1851 to take effect at certain ages on record.' Since the handwriting for all entries is the same, it is quite possible that this Bible was given to the slave family as some sort of assurance and insurance of their eventual freedom.