Published: November 25, 2005
PHILLIS WHEATLEY LETTER SELLS AT SWANN GALLERIES
FOR $253,000 - AN AUCTION RECORD FOR ANY LETTER WRITTEN BY AN AFRICAN
AMERICAN
 Frontispiece portrait of Phillis Wheatley from her book, "Poems on Various Subjects," London 1773. A first edition of the first book of poems by the first black woman poet in America. A copy of this book sold at Swann Galleries' auction of Printed & Manscript African-Americana on February 26, 2004 for $17,250 |
New York, NY (BlackNews.com) - A newly discovered Autograph Letter Signed by slave poet Phillis Wheatley - the first African-American to publish a book of poetry - sold to a private collector bidding by telephone for $253,000 (including buyers premium) this afternoon at Swann Auction Galleries. It is the highest amount realized at auction for a letter written by an African American, and possibly the highest price ever paid for a letter written by a woman.
The two-page letter, written in February 1776 to Wheatley's friend and sister slave Obour Tanner, discusses the American Revolution. In it, she writes, "Even I a mere spectator, am in anxious suspense concerning the fortune of this unnatural civil Contest. Possibly the ambition & thirst of Dominion in some, is designd as the punishment of the national view of others, tho it bears the appearance of greater Barbarity than that of the uncivilized part of mankind."
The letter has passed down in the family of economist and abolitionist Amasa Walker. Only 19 others are known to exist, and all are in institutional collections in the U.S. and Great Britain. This is her only letter ever to appear at auction.
Phillis Wheatley was born in Africa and brought to Boston as a slave in 1761. A mere six years later, she had learned to speak and write fluent English and had published her first poem. Her book, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, published in London in 1773, was the first book of poetry published by an African-American. She is considered the founder of the African-American literary tradition.
"We are extremely pleased with the final price achieved for this historic itemprobably the most important piece of African Americana to come to auction in some time," said Jeremy Markowitz, Autograph's specialist. "The buyer, a private collector, is thrilled to include it in a wonderful collection of African American literature and art."
For complete results, an illustrated catalogue of the November 22 Autograph's auction, with prices realized, is available for $25 from Swann Galleries, Inc., 104 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010, or online at www.swanngalleries.com
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