Posted 9 years ago
Srickers
(3 items)
Cleaning out mother in laws apt. Found this old book. Given to her by someone in 1926. She was born in 1922. Don't know if it was new then, no date on it other than the 1926. Has anyone ever seen a book like this before? It's about 10" high. Story has the "N" word throughout!
Would like to know original date if possible.
Quite rare, quite valuable Black Americana...
Topsy. New York: McLoughlin Bros., ca. 1894-1914. [catalog record]
Topsy
This chromolithographed shaped book was published by McLoughlin Bros., a leader in picture book production after the Civil War. It features poems and pictures about African-American children at work and play, including a stunning picture of African-American children racing horses through a town. One of the most telling images in Topsy is the illustration of a barefoot African-American girl serving fruit to a well-dressed white girl walking her dog; the image is simply titled, "Black and White."
http://www.americanantiquarian.org/african-american-resources
Topsy was the little slave girl in 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'. Your book was originally published in 1890!
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Vintage-Black-Americana-1890-Rare-Topsy-Die-Cut-Book-by-McLoughlin-Brothers-Rare-/361471570067?hash=item5429627093:g:8tQAAOSwPYZU78t~
On Heritage Auctions, one sold for 87 & one for 44.
Thank you so much Celiene! What a veritable font of information you are! So glad I posted the book.