1859-Dated Civil War Era NGC Genuine SERVANT Slave Hire Tag from Charleston, SC

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Autographs-Colonial-Political-Americana

By Early American History Auctions

Mar 20, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-03-20 12:00:00 2021-03-20 12:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Autographs-Colonial-Political-Americana https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/early-american-history-auctions/autographs-colonial-political-americana-6509
330 Lots of Rare, Historic Autographs, Americana, Civil War Era, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Slavery & Black History, Revolutionary War Era, Colonial America, Federal Period, War of 1812, Colonial Currency, Indian Peace Medals & more... Early American History Auctions auctions@earlyamerican.com

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• Lot Description
  Black History
  1859 Pre Civil War Date Charleston "SERVANT" Slave Tag
  1859-Dated Pre Civil War Era, Genuine "SERVANT" Slave Hire Identification Tag from Charleston (South Carolina), Tag Number "996", NGC Tag Certified GENUINE, Very Fine.
  1859-Dated well detailed and pleasing Genuine fully authentic "SERVANT" Charleston Slave Identification Tag. This sharply detailed attractive Tag measures about 1.5" x 1.5", is diamond shaped and properly holed at top for suspension, as always, as made. The corners have been clipped as usual so as not to be sharp. This Slave Tag reads, "CHARLESTON / SERVANT / 996 / 1859". The details are all clear and readable, well centered showing a strong, clear "1859" date, "SERVANT" occupation and city name at top. A superior example with only very minor roughness and trivial outer edge irregularity which is confined to two of the four edges. The reverse is particularly clean and free from detractions. Possibly cleaned many decades ago the rich patina is attractive. We most recently offered an 1840 dated Slave Tag in our EAHA Auction of April 25, 2020 which sold for $3,900 as well as an 1860 dated Slave Tag in our EAHA Auction of December 11, 2020 which sold for $3,600. This example has some attributes that are sharper.
  Slave Hire Tags or Badges were created and sold only in Charleston, South Carolina. These Tags were renewable at the end of every year as long as the fee was paid. According to Greene, Hutchins, Jr., and Hutchins in their book "Slave Badges and the Slave-Hire System in Charleston, South Carolina, 1783-1865".
  Slave owners would purchase a badge from the City of Charleston. The wages earned by a hired-out slave belonged to their owners. However, evidence exists that wages earned in excess of what was owed to their owner could be retained by the slave, if the owner allowed it. The badges were typically sewn to clothing and gave the wearer more freedom of movement within the city than would be given to a slave working on a plantation. Badges were dated and were issued annually and became a source of tax revenue for the city. Cost for tags in 1865 ranged from $10 to $35 with the number peaking at about 5,000 in 1860. Ironically, slave badges which may be looked at as tagging a human as if property, may actually be evidence of relative freedom of movement within Charleston and a means of income for a slave and his or her family.
  
  Our Auction Contents:
  
  Black History & Slavery: (Lots 1 - 63)
  Abraham Lincoln Related: (Lots 64 - 74)
  Historic Autographs: (Lots 75 - 235)
  Colonial America: (Lots 236 - 261)
  Revolutionary War: (Lots 262 - 304)
  George Washington Related: (Lots 305 - 306)
  Early American Guns & Weapons: (Lots 307 - 318)
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