Slaves at Sale: Beard, Calhoun & Co. January 16th Auction

Chilling slave auction poster from Beard, Calhoun & Co., announcing "SLAVES AT SALE, WITHOUT RESERVE" to be held on Tuesday, January 16th at 12 o'clock at Banks' Arcade. This detailed advertisement lists enslaved people by name, age, and skills with cold precision: "JORDAN, 23 years of age, a likely negro man and a carpenter," "MARY, aged 24 years and child one year old," "EDWIN, aged 27 years, a griffe man," and others including children as young as 15 and 17 years old. The poster also advertises "The Negress MATHILDA, aged about 29 years and her son PAUL, 7 years—a good washer" and lists payment terms as cash. The casual cataloging of human beings—describing their labor skills, ages, and even selling mothers with their children—reveals the complete dehumanization of the slave trade. A stark historical document of America's original sin, available in three sizes with your choice of black or silver aluminum frame.