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Auction: 284 - Bond, Share & Americana Mailbid & Internet Exclusive
Lot: 1033

Tupper, Martin British poet, inventor, and social activist (1810-89); noted for supporting the development of African literature. Choice Autograph Verse Signed "Martin F. Tupper" at close, 3p, 8vo, Albury, [Surrey, England], 9/3/1851. A poem entitled "Liberia to America," in four numbered stanzas, reading in part, "Foster-mother, shrewd & stern, / Favour yet thy sable child, - Graciously & frankly turn / With a heart well-reconcil´d / ...Have we not deserved right well / Of Mankind, & Thee, forsooth? / Is it but a boast to tell / That our progress helps The Truth / ...Great America, behold! / Thou, through us, shalt cure anon / Man´s deep leprosy of old / Noah´s curse on Ham´s dark son / ...With gracious glance befriend / Thine own sons, no longer slaves!" Soiled on first page and verso of third page, with partial fold splits and a large closed internal tear, but will display well, G/VG. Liberia was originally established as a homeland for freed slaves from the US. Fearing that emancipation would lead to interracial war between former slaves and former masters, many abolitionists favored the solution of "returning" America´s slaves to Africa. The plan was unrealistic, partly because the resettlement colonies were already inhabited by native-born Africans. Estimate US$ 75-100

Estimate
$75 to $100