Exonumia Auction - Maine Antique Digest

Miscellaneous Tokens and MedalsThis date in 1834 was chosen for the emancipation of Colonialslaves with the exception of Trinidad, Grenada and St. Kitts.It was to be 29 years for Great Britain’s voice to be heard inAmerica. (G)Lot 384Lot 382 (reduced)the underlying metal. Unusual tousled-hair portrait of Napoleoncopying a similar piece by David D’Angers. Vertical inscriptionin lower case lettering at left: LE GENERALE/ BONAPARTE.Inscribed above the head, MARIA. Inscribed at 3:00: J’APRES/DAVID and below: (?) THOMAS.When this very plaque was offered in Ira and Larry Goldberg’sAuction No. 69. it was attributed to the French sculptor andmedallist, Alexis Francois Thomas (1795-1875). We are less thanconvinced of this attribution. While the last name in the signatureis clearly “Thomas”, we cannot decipher the letter(s) precedingit. In the absence of a verified copy of Alexis Francois Thomas’ssignature with which to compare this, we would prefer to saythat this was the work of a talented medallist with the last name“Thomas.” (G)Lot 383383. ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, 1834. BHM 1666, but unlisted inWhite Metal. 43.5mm. Hairlined Uncirculated. Obverse with aNegro kneeling in chains. AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER.In exergue; A VOICE FROM/ GREAT BRITAIN/ TO AMERICA/1834. Rx: Negro standing amid palm trees & other plants, armsraised showing broken chains. THIS IS THE LORDS DOING: ITIS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES. In exergue: JUBILEE AUGT.1/ 1834. A rare unholed example.384. AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY, 1840. BushnellMiscellaneous 8. 46.2mm. White Metal. William Henry Bridgens,Sc. Holed Extremely Fine with scattered field marks consistentwith the grade. Obverse with two standing figures of Minerva andthe Muse of History. IMMEDIATE EMANCIPATION is inscribedto either side. The one on the left holds a pole with a wavingbanner inscribed: NO CONCEALMENT/ NO COMPROMISE.The face of this figure is flattened as a result of the injury to theplanchet. The female figure on the right holds a tablet inscribed:TRUTH/ SHALL/ MAKE /YOU FREE. The date 1840 appearsbelow the figures. The legend reads: THERE ARE MORE THAN2,500,000 SLAVES IN THE UNITED STATES. AMERICANANTI SLAVERY SOCIETY INSTITUTED DEC. 1833.The reverse bears a legend surrounded a long 13 line inscription.OUR OBJECT IS THE PEACEFUL SPEEDY AND TOTALABOLITION OF SLAVERY. OUR TRUST FOR VICTORY ISSOLELY IN GOD around ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL/OUR/ MEASURE SHALL BE/ SUCH ONLY AS THE OPPO-/ SITION OF MORAL PURITY TO/ MORAL CORRUPTION,THE DESTRUC/ TION OF ERROR/ BY THE POTENCY/OF TRUTH, THE OVERTHROW OF PRE/ JUDICE BY THEPOWER OF LOVE/ AND THE ABOLITION OF/ SLAVERYBY THE SPIRIT/ OF REPENTANCE./ VIDE. DECLARATIONOF SENTIMENTS.The American Anti-Slavery Society was established by delegatesfrom similar state and local societies, including the Bostonorganization, which had been founded in January 1832 underthe leadership of the abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison andwas the first such society in America. The group was militantin the fight against slavery. The members were regarded in theSouth as fanatics and it was not usual for their society meetingsto be broken forcefully. Many members of the group wereequally committed to women’s rights and number of womenrose to prominence in their ranks. This was the cause for no littledissension with the result that a dissident group, including someof the founders of the Society, broke away and formed anothergroup named the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society.Their political activities led to the formation of the Liberty Partyin the late 1840. The American Anti-Slavery Society operateduntil 1870, when the adoption of the 15th Amendment to the U.S.Constitution secured the right to vote for blacks.105H