African Americana: Five Rare Books for Collectors
Part of 26 pages of arrangements from The Temptations' My Girl
Highlights of Swann Galleries' auction of Printed & Manuscript African Americana on March 20 include:
* Advance press copy of Martin Luther King Jr's Nobel Peace Prize lecture on December 11, 1964, in which he addresses not only the struggle against racial injustice, but also poverty and war. Newspapers only published extracts rather than the entire speech. Estimate: $3,000 - $4,000.
* Frederick Douglass' autograph statement on voting rights, "The foundations of this republic can never rest secure till equal suffrage is extended to all the people without distinction of race or color." This is an original statement by Douglass, rather than a quotation from his published works. Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000
* Rosa Parks' hand-written recollection of her first meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr across two pages on one 10½ x 8 inch sheet of lined looseleaf notebook paper. "We spoke to each other without introducing ourselves. I was busy getting chairs placed at the table to open the meeting." Estimate: $30,000 - $40,000.
* The 1958 Negro Travelers' Green Book edited by Victor H. Green, the indispensable travel guide for Black families, from a time when long-distance travel would be a cause for apprehension about finding lodging, gasoline, or even a restroom. Friendly service stations, hotels, nightclubs and restaurants are arranged by state across the country. The cover of this edition, printed as a special promotional giveaway by the Esso Standard Oil Company, states "Carry your Green Book with you . . . You may need it!". Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000
* A large collection of the Detroit-based vocal group The Temptations' memorabilia, including approximately 750 pages of Temptations band arrangements for a total of 64 different songs, mostly original Temptations compositions but also cover songs and medleys. They are mostly either manuscripts or diazotype copies of manuscripts (often with extensive manuscript notes), plus a small number of photocopies. Included are 26 pages of arrangements from My Girl. Estimate: $3,000 - $4,000
