August 2022 Auction Ends Thursday, August 25th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/25/2022
Civil Rights archive owned by Civil Rights leader Joseph Beaver, Jr., a Congressional Gold Medal awardee who was one of the first black men to serve in the U.S. Marines. The highlight of the collection is a typed letter signed by Martin Luther King, Jr. referencing the knife attack against him that occurred on 20 September 1958. In this letter dated 24 October 1958, composed on his personal stationery, King writes in part,
''...Your genuine concern and moral support come as great spiritual lift to me and are of inestimable value in giving me the courage and strength to face the ordeal of this trying period. / Your thoughtful, considerate gesture will remain dear to me as long as the cords of memory shall lengthen...I am glad to report that I am on the road to a complete recovery. I solicit your continued prayers and goodwishes as I rejoin the ranks of those who are working tirelessly and ceaselessly for the realization of the ideals of Freedom, Brotherhood and Human Dignity...[signed] Martin L. King Jr.'' Signed in blue ballpoint, letter measures 7.25'' x 10.5''. Moderate toning and folds, else near fine.
Archive also includes: (2) First edition of ''Rosa Parks / My Story'' signed by Parks on the half-title page, ''2/7/93 / Rosa Parks / To Joseph Beaver''. New York: Dial Books, 1992 first edition, later printing. Measures 5.75'' x 8.5'' in original dust jacket. Near fine.
(3) Ralph D. Abernathy typed letter signed on Southern Christian Leadership Conference stationery, dated 23 January 1969, thanking Beaver for his donation. Measures 7.625'' x 11''. Folds and light toning, else near fine. Accompanied by original envelope.
(4) W.E.B. Du Bois typed letter signed on his personal stationery, dated 17 July 1959, thanking Beaver for a copy of a book about Wendell P. Dabney, ''one of my closest friends'', according to the letter. Measures 7.25'' x 10.5''. Some spotting and folds, in very good condition.
(5-6) ''Crusade for Citizenship'' pamphlet printed by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, with the purpose stated on the front to ''Double the Negro Vote in the South''. Four page bifolium pamphlet measures 5.5'' x 8.5''. Very good condition. Lastly, archive includes printed letter from Andrew Young dated May 1972 on Young's personal stationery.
Martin Luther King Letter Signed Just 1 Month After His Knife Attack & Referencing the Attack -- Civil Rights Archive Also Includes Rosa Parks Signed Book & Letters Signed by Ralph Abernathy & Others
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