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Thompson, the Abolitionist.
Boston: [October, 1835]. Letterpress broadside, 8.875” x 12 (sheet size). Early ink inscription on verso reading: “Return to C.C. Mason of the Me Cong. the M.E. Ch.” CONDITION: Good, old folds, a few tissue repairs on verso to small holes, loss along fold in lower margin just nicking “2” in “2 o’clock,” a few small losses to lower edge,some toning and foxing. [with] Boston, 8 December 1877. 2 pp., 7.75” x 5”, with original cover addressed to Gould with 3 cent stamp and Boston postmark. Written in response to Gould’s letter requesting information on the Thompson broadside (see below). CONDITION: Very good, old folds. [with] [Probably Boston,] 2 May 1892. 1 p., 7.75” x 4.875”. CONDITION: Very good, old folds. [with] Portland, Maine, 1853. Housed in a thermoplastic case. CONDITION: Very good, image clear and un-touched, mat tarnished, case fully intact and attractive. An exceptionally rare broadside relating to one of the most notorious moments in the history of abolitionism, accompanied by a letter of William Lloyd Garrison providing an account of events and referring to his “ruffianly seizure” by the pro-slavery mob, with a related family letter and Gould family daguerreotype. In 1835, one of the leading British abolitionists, George Thompson (1804–1878), traveled from the United Kingdom for a lecture tour of the United States in response to an invitation from William Lloyd Garrison, whom he had met in 1832 in Scotland where the two became friends. In the 1877 ALS included here, Garrison recalls the events surrounding the broadside: “On the 21st of October, 1835, the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society attempted to hold its annual meeting. At that time George Thompson, the eloquent and successful advocate of British West India Emancipation, was laboring here with the Abolitionists, and by their invitation, to effect a similar deliverance for the Southern slave population. To intensify the popular pro-slavery spirit against him, he was falsely and maliciously branded by the press as a British emissary who had been sent here by the British Government with his pockets lined with British gold ‘for the purpose of overthrowing our Glorious Union’ etc, etc.” The broadside, explicitly intended to incite a mob (yet attempting to characterize its purpose as patriotic), calls for the pro-slavery supporters to seize and tar Thompson: That infamous scoundrel THOMPSON, will hold forth this afternoon, at the Liberator Office, No. 48, Washington Street. The present is a fair opportunity for the friends of the Union to snake Thompson out! It will be a contest between the Abolitionists and the friends of the Union. A purse of $100 has been raised by a number of patriotic citizens to reward the individual who shall first lay violent hands on Thompson, so that he may be brought to the tar kettle before dark. Friends of the Union, be vigilant! Aware of the gathering mob, Thompson did not attend the meeting as scheduled, and Garrison instead went to speak to the Society. Garrison continues with his description of the events unfolding, including fascinating details of the author and publisher of the inciting broadside: “It was deemed prudent by ladies, for his own personal safety, that he should not attend the meeting aforesaid; nevertheless, it was rumored that he was to be present, and this led to the issuing of the mob-exciting placard which you have copied in your letter, and about which you express a wish to be further informed. That placard was written by James L. Homer, editor of the Boston Gazette, and printed in his office, and distributed throughout the city!” Garrison concludes with his own experience on the day: “The result was the gathering of a mob of five thousand persons, the breaking up of the ladies meeting, my ruffianly seizure, and being dragged through the streets, finally rescued by the city constabulary, and incarceration in Leverett Street jail to save my life.” Garrison was indeed seized by the pro-slavery mob and was dragged through the streets with a rope around his waist with the intent of tarring and feathering him or worse. Boston Mayor Theodore Lyman II intervened and confined Garrison for his own safety. The example of the broadside offered here, at one time owned by Reverend C. C. Mason of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was subsequently given to William Gould, whose curiosity regarding events surrounding it led him to write to Garrison. Gould’s letter, penned from Portland, Maine on November 14th, 1877, is in the Boston Public Library’s Anti-Slavery Collection (MS A.1.2 v.39, p. 154A). He writes in part: “I have copied upon the page annexed a sheet sent me by an old minister. It is so very different from the state of things today that I want to frame it for my Library & I would be very glad to frame also, any reply you may be pleased to make to me, when I now ask you if you will. Kindly tell me what year this was. What was the result of the appeal, and (if it is known) who was the author of the document.” Also included here is an 1892 letter from Gould’s wife Emma (1836–1918) to his brother John, offering the collection of items to him: “Edw. has, framed, a relic which he thinks you may like. It is a placard, printed in Boston in Feb. [sic] 1835, intended [to] incite a pro-slavery mob at the time of an anti-slavery meeting with it is an autographed letter from Wm. Loyd [sic] Garrison explaining it, which he wrote Edw. in reply to one from him asking information about the affair. If you would like it, perhaps Theo will come for it. I am breaking up, and packing, and it will be one thing out of my way. If you do not come for it he will give it to the Historical Society.” Emma refers here to her husband by his middle name, Edward. Lending additional interest to this lot is a half plate daguerreotype of the Gould family of Portland, Maine. Edward Gould (1805–1894) and his wife Althea Chase Gould (1808–1894) are seated at center surrounded by their six children. William E. Gould, the eldest son, stands at the center, his hand resting on his father’s shoulder. To the left of William is his brother John Mead Gould, who would go on to achieve distinction in the Civil War. Although often cited in accounts of the abolitionist movement, the Thompson broadside is exceptionally rare. We locate just two copies in institutions, at The National Museum of African American History & Culture and the Massachusetts Historical Society. OCLC records a copy at the Library of Congress (dated 1851 in the record), but it is pictured on the LC site and appears to be a reproduction of some sort. An important group of items documenting the conflict in Boston surrounding abolitionism in the 1830s and a wonderful example of private historical preservation. Provenance: Reverend Charles C. Mason (b. ca. 1820), to William E. Gould (1837–1919), to his brother John Mead Gould (1839–1930).Autograph letter signed, to William E. Gould, regarding the confrontation with the pro-slavery mob in October, 1835.
Autograph letter signed by Emma [Maynard Dow Gould], William Gould’s wife, to John, likely John Mead Gould, William’s brother, regarding the broadside and Garrison letter offered here.
Half plate daguerreotype of the Gould family.
Item #9998
Price: $25,000.00
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