LOT Cowan’s Historic Americana Auctions  /  Historic Americana  / 

293

E. LOVEJOY BROTHER'S LETTER, SLAVERY.

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:100.00 - 200.00 USD
E. LOVEJOY BROTHER'S LETTER, SLAVERY.
E. LOVEJOY BROTHER'S LETTER, SLAVERY. A 3pp. ALS from Joseph Lovejoy addressed to Mr. Samuel Silsbee(?), Charlestown, Maine, from Old Town, Maine, April 25, 1838. The 9.5 x 15" letter sheet has an imprint at the top commemorating "Lovejoy / The first MARTYR to American LIBERTY. MURDERED for asserting the FREEDOM of the PRESS./ ALTON Nov. 7, 1837." The image shows a stylized figure of Lady Liberty standing by a printing press with a black man at her feet. Joseph was a brother of Elijah Parish Lovejoy. Lovejoy was a Presbyterian minister, who went to St. Louis as editor of the Presbyterian weekly for the West. Since St. Louis was a port town for the South, people were not happy with Lovejoy's anti-slavery tones in the paper. Rather than moderate his position, he moved to Alton, IL, since it was then a larger town than St. Louis, and its population was more Northeastern in origins and orientation. After various disasters in setting up an abolitionist press and state auxiliary to the American Anti-Slavery Society in Alton, he encountered more resistance from the citizens of Alton. His press was destroyed several times, being replaced each time. As another press was scheduled to be delivered on Nov. 7, Lovejoy's supporters mounted an effort to protect this one. The anti-Lovejoy mob stormed the warehouse in an attempt to destroy it and the press. Lovejoy rushed in in an attempt to stop them and was shot. Usual folds, some bleed-through of ink, but overall in very good condition. PLEASE NOTE: THIS LOT WILL BE SOLD ON EBAY LIVE AUCTIONS BETWEEN 3:00-4:00pm EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME ON MAY 10, 2002. REGISTER NOW TO BID LIVE ONLINE THE DAY OF THE SALE! (EST 100-200)
Sign In to Bookmark Lot