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Great on the Thomas Sims fugitive slave case in Boston...
Great on the Thomas Sims fugitive slave case in Boston...
Item # 696676
May 10, 1851
GLEASON'S PICTORIAL DRAWING-ROOM COMPANION, Boston, May 10, 1851
* Thomas Sims - Negro
* Fugitive slave case
This was perhaps America's first successful illustrated newspaper, existing from 1851 thru 1859. It set the format for other more successful titles to emulate, most notably Frank Leslie's Illustrated (1855) and Harper's Weekly (1857). All were modeled after the British title London Illustrated News which began in 1842.
This is the volume 1, number 2 issue. Most of the front page is taken up with a print of: "Firemen On Boston Common, May Morning" with a related article.
The best content would be the full page concerning the fugitive slave Thomas Sims, containing two related prints captioned: "Police C conveying Sims to the Vessel" and: "Departure of Brig Acorn With Sims on Board".
This is an account of the famous fugitive slave Thomas Sims who escaped from slavery in Georgia at age 17 and lived for a time in Boston. He was arrested in Boston on April 3 under the controversial Fugitive Slave Law enacted just the year prior, and his return garnered considerable attention from the national press and sympathy among northern abolitionists.
Although we have handled many newspapers reporting this famous fugitive slave case, this is very likely the only periodical which contains prints concerning it, likely because it being a Boston paper. A related article appears between the prints.
Other prints within: "Mrs. Fillmore's Carriage" "Destruction of Minot's Ledge Lighthouse" "First of May in New York" "Ranche on the Chagres River" "Launch of the Flying Cloud" "Madame Logo At Noblo's Theatre" "View of the City of Philadelphia" (perhaps the earliest print of such to appear in a periodical?)
Sixteen pages, 11 1/4 by 15 3/4 inches, water stains to the bottom print and some text, scattered foxing as well. See the photos.
Category: Pre-Civil War