Created by
United States Congress, American, founded 1789
Printed by
Ritchie, Thomas, American, 1778 - 1854
Date
1850
Medium
ink on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 9 3/4 x 7 11/16 in. (24.8 x 19.5 cm)
Description
Proof copy of the first printing of The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 consisting of a single sheet of U.S. Government-issued blue stock paper folded quarto to form four pages and printed in black ink. At top a handwritten inscription reads [U.S. Congress. / Fugitive Slaves Act.] The printed text begins [AN ACT / TO AMEND, AND SUPPLEMENTARY TO, THE ACT ENTITLED "AN ACT RESPECTING FUGITIVES FROM JUSTICE / AND PERSONS ESCAPING FROM THE SERVICE OF THEIR MASTERS," APPROVED FEBRUARY TWELFTH, ONE / THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND NINETY-THREE.].
In the body, there are two annotations handwritten in black ink -correcting "B it enacted" to "Be it enacted," and "courts of United States" to "courts of the United States."
Place depicted
United States, North and Central America
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Documents and Published Materials-Published Works
Type
laws
Topic
Fugitive enslaved
Government
Law
Politics
Self-liberation
Slavery
U.S. History, 1815-1861
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2009.14.4
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5398a20ab-70ff-4fbb-b4c2-a06d94891c9d

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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