Pair of Slave Children CDVs Used To Fundraise for Educating Freedmen

A pair of cartes-de-visite featuring images of light-skinned slave children. The first, measuring 2.375" x 4", New York, dated 1864, is a portrait of slave children Rebecca Huger, Charles Taylor, and Rosina Downs, all wrapped in American flags. Captioned "Our Protection. Rosa, Charley, Rebecca. Slave Children from New Orleans." On verso, the image is identified as a photograph from the Mastai Collection, No. 9, published by Charles Paxton. The verso also states: "The nett [sic] proceeds from the sale of these photographs will be devoted to the education of colored people in the Department of the Gulf, now under the command of Maj. Gen'l Banks." The second carte-de-visite, measuring 2.5" x 3.5", New York, dated 1863, is a standing portrait of Fannie Virginia Casseopia Lawrence at the age of five. The caption of the image has been clipped off. No backstamp is present, but there is a partial 2-cent stamp on verso. Both cards have clipped corners, with minor wear and soiling throughout. Overall, very good.

These types of images were used not only to fundraise for freedmen’s schools in New Orleans, but also to demonstrate that slavery was not simply a matter of skin color, but of birth. During the Antebellum period, passing as white was a means of escaping slavery - using the temporary guise to gain freedom after leaving the plantation. If an escaped slave was able to pass as white, they were less likely to be caught and returned to their masters.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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