Bauman Rare Books Early 2020 Online Catalogue

B L A C K H I S T O R Y & L I T E R A T U R E B A U M A N R A R E B O O K S • E A R L Y 2 0 2 0 O N L I N E Scarce 1863 Pro-Abolition Political Handbill: Democratic Catechism Of Negro Equality, July 4th, 1863 (CIVIL WAR) (SLAVERY). Handbill [“Democratic Catechism of Negro Equality. July 4, 1863”]. No place, no date. Single sheet of off-white paper, measuring 5-1/2 by 9-1/2 inches, printed on recto only. $950. View on Website Presumed first edition of this scarce Republican handbill charging the Democratic party with supporting African American equality legislatively while claiming to abhor the very idea. “On July 4, 1863 the Democratic Catechism of Negro Equality was published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The document criticizes the Democratic Party of the United States for placing the responsibility of African American emancipation on the Republicans’ shoulders instead of participating in the struggle themselves. By beginning the text with an index of the Democratic Party’s accomplishments, the catechism’s authors show how the Party’s ideology already supports abolition, thus revealing the hypocrisy of Democrats’ inaction” ( Changing America , Brown University). In the lead-up to the 1864 presidential election pitting Lincoln against McClellan, many argued that Lincoln favored African Americans over white Americans. Rather than addressing the absurdity of this claim directly, Republicans struck back with this handbill. In it, they attempted to brand Democrats as two-faced, arguing that Democrats provided African Americans with legislative support while claiming to fight against African American equality and suffrage. The specific printing history of this particular handbill is unknown. While some contemporary copies have a publisher’s imprint at the bottom (Johnson’s in Philadelphia) and correct spacing in the date added to the title, some copies—like this one—lack any imprint and also have tight spacing of the date. Regardless, copies with July 4th, 1863 in the title are generally regarded as the first edition. The second edition of 1864 removed the date. Sabin 19499. Marginal chipping to bottom corner, faint foxing, slight creasing to edges, and mild toning along bottom edge. Extremely good condition. 9 ©2020 Bauman Rare Books www.baumanrarebooks.com 1-800-97-BAUMAN (1-800-972-2862)