A vintage carte de visite depicting eight Haitians convicted of kidnapping, murder, and cannibalism in what became known as the 1864 Bizoton Affair. N.d., but probably the last half of the 19th century. The carte de visite is comprised of a sepia-colored albumen photograph affixed to a stock mount with rounded corners. A possible artist signature--Sarthou or Nartou--appears in stone at lower left. The photographer studio's backstamp is printed verso as "L. Alman / Photographer / No. 340 Broadway / Corner 13th Street, / New York." The reverse of the card is inscribed "Sauvages de Port de Prince" [trans: "Barbarians of Port-au-Prince"] as well as "Slave Trader." Expected wear including toning, isolated foxing, and other negligible imperfections, else near fine and of a sensational subject! 3.625" x 2.375." Accompanied by Mike Dash's comprehensive article about the case, "The Trial That Gave Vodou a Bad Name" ("Smithsonian Magazine," May 29, 2013).

The photograph is nearly identical to a sketch made by American abolitionist James Redpath that was published in the September 2, 1865 issue of "Harper's Weekly," captioned: "Votaries of the God Vaudoux (Snake-Worshippers), Executed for the Crime of Cannibalism at Hayti." Eight villagers from Bizoton, Haiti--four men and four women--were executed by firing squad in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on February 13, 1864 after being convicted of abducting, killing, and eating a young girl named Claircine.

Prosecutors believed that the group, led by a discontented villager named Congo Pelé, had killed the victim to offer her as a human sacrifice to the African gods worshipped by vodou practitioners.The high-profile case revealed the extent to which Haitians espoused traditional African belief systems under a nominally Christian veneer. Sensationalized by white observers who imposed their own racial prejudices on the accused, it is unknown whether the group was really guilty. Nevertheless, the case sparked an anti-vodou campaign championed by Haitian President Fabre Geffrard, who wanted to modernize the country and rehabilitate its "uncivilized" reputation.

Interest in the "Affaire de Bizoton" revived after Spenser St. John, a former high-ranking British official who had served in Haiti and witnessed the 1864 events, published his book "Hayti; or the Black Republic" in 1884. This time frame would correlate with when we know Alman & Co., a New York-based photographer, was active, from ca. 1880s-1910s.

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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