Black History
Illustration Plan and Sections of a Slave Ship as Published by J. P. Parke, Copper-Plate Engraved by Kneass, Philadelphia
1808 Published, Historic Illustration Plan and Sections of a Slave Ship, by engraver William Kneass, Philadelphia, from the First American Edition of "Clarkson's History of the Rise, Progress, and Accomplishment of the Abolition of the African Slave-Trade by the British Parliament," the Slave Ship Illustration reading: "Pub. by J.P. Parke Philad. 1808", Very Fine.
This very rare historic Black History related fold-out illustration is shows the layout of a 18th Century multi-deck Slave Ship. It is one of the most powerful visual references of the horrors of the Middle-Passage Transatlantic Slave Trade. The historic diagram illustrating in seven separate figures, the method of Stowing Slaves aboard a Cargo Ship. This Illustration Fold-out is disbound from the book, has tone transfer from its images from when folded, with a short 2.5" tear at the right margin at center. All printed details remain sharp and clear. This is the original, fully authentic, Engraving which measures 13" tall x 17.5" long, displaying a Printed Plan and Sections of a Slave Ship. It is from a historic 1808 published Black History Abolitionist Book, being a most important Illustration displaying the inhumane transit conditions incurred by enslaved Negro People during their transport through the Middle Passage across the Atlantic Ocean, shown in a large Broadside style.
This Graphic Engraving depicts aerial, horizontal, and vertical cross sections of the multi-decked late 18th Century Sailing Ship, with its tightly packed with prostrate Enslaved figures. The proportional diagram, based on the dimensions of the English Slave Ship, "Brooke" and the space calculations are based on a report to the British House of Commons in London in 1798, which contains fewer figures than the number of humans routinely transported on the actual ship. Title from earlier plate seen in C.B. Wadstrom's "An Essay on Colonization" London: C.B. Waldstrom, 1794.
Early American previously offered and sold a later, 1836-Dated, Broadside Style Transatlantic Slave Trade Lithograph titled, "SLAVE SHIP", by J.H. Bufford's, New York, Published by John S. Taylor, New York, in Fine condition, that measured about 17.75" x 12.75". That historic diagram illustrating in seven figures the method of Stowing Slaves aboard a cargo ship, which was later widely copied and distributed as a Broadside by British and American Abolitionists. The basis of the image is a diagram of the British Slave-Ship "Brookes" published in 1788 by the Plymouth Chapter of the "Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade". It was subsequently used in contemporary texts, including untitled in "Clarkson's History of the Rise, Progress, and Accomplishment of the Abolition of the African Slave-Trade by the British Parliament" (London, 1808), which is the exact SLAVE SHIP Illustration currently offered, it being from the First American Edition, Vol. II Philadelphia: James P. Parke, 1808. An example of this exact graphic Print by engraver William Kneass, (1780-1840) is located in the African Americana Collection, part of "The Library Company of Philadelphia". The 1836 "SLAVE SHIP" was offered in our EAHA Auction of March 20, 2021 Lot 245, graded Fine and selling for $4,062.
This current Slave Ship Illustration Plan being offered is in better condition and far more rare as it was engraved some three decades earlier. This original 1808 engraved diagram would be an excellent example to frame for display. It will certainly be a centerpiece and highlight to any historic Black History or Slavery related collection.