Boston

1849 · rif. List1801 — Boston: Anti-Slavery Bazaar 1849. Small broadside measuring 7 ¾ x 4 ½ inches printed on green wove paper. Some creases and a small tear at margin near fine. Near Fine. The American Anti-Slavery Society hosted annual bazaars which served as fundraisers with money going to supporting the National Anti-Slavery Standard newspaper. Many women were involved with the event and sold abolitionist items. Offered here is one such piece of ephemera from the 1849 fair a poem written by an unknown author with the pen name “M.” The poem was featured in the poetry section of The Liberator January 26 1849 Vol. XIX. No. 4. with the description “The two following poetical effusions were written for the Anti-Slavery Bazaar In Faneuil Hall by friends of freedom in the old world.” It reads: Ye friends of liberty all hail! May your endeavours never fail In freedom’s sacred cause! May blessings e’er attend your course In striving to uproot all force And stern oppression’s laws! Yours is a noble task my friends! And God his gracious favor lends To speed ye on your way Until you reach the blessed goal When ev’ry dark benighted soul Shall hail bright freedom’s ray. Oh! may he speed the time when all Their fellow-men shall brethren call And the deep wrong remove When the dark chains of slavery Give place to sacred liberty And bonds of holy love! Oh! it were happiness to bind In such bright chains all human kind And set each captive free; For when oppressions all shall cease And this fair world be fill’d with peace Like Heav’n on earth ‘twill be! A very nice example of the anti-slavery movement during this period. Uncommon with one copy appearing at auction and none listed in OCLC. Anti-Slavery Bazaar unknown books