LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 Feb Americana Grand Format Auction #659  / 

25295

1851 Charleston SERVANT Slave Hire Badge #1577

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Cultures & Ethnicities Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,200.00 USD
1851 Charleston SERVANT Slave Hire Badge #1577
<B>1851 Charleston SERVANT Slave Hire Badge. Number 1577.</B></I> A slightly convex diamond-shaped tag with a hole at the top for suspension, 55mm x 55mm. The maker, William Rouse, did not clip the corners on some of the Servant badges this year for the first time. This is one such badge with sharp corners that must have been very uncomfortable to wear. The elements on the obverse are as follows (top to bottom): "CHARLESTON" in a crescent-shaped bar punch ("LE" affected by hole); "1851" bar punched (last digit a bit weak); "SERVANT" in a rectangular punch; and an incuse "1577" in individual punches. The condition is fine with dark brown patina and red highlights. <BR><BR>Based on the fact that Charleston was growing quickly in this period of time and that the suburb Charleston Neck had been incorporated into the city, it is not surprising that the production of slave hire badges in 1851 was the largest to date. Approximately 6350 were manufactured though "by the formula for estimating slave badge sales based on income, the number of badges sold comes to 4,668, quite a bit less than the number actually made." (Greene et al, <I>Slave Badges and the Slave Hire System...,</B></I> 138). One has to wonder where they all went, as likely only a dozen or two from this date are extant today.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Small Collectibles (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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