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Mid-19th Century Slave Ledger (Register of Negroes)

A 19th-century manuscript ledger titled 'Register of Negroes' documenting names, birth dates, and fates of enslaved individuals. - view 1
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Estimated value

$2,500 - $7,500

Rarity

Very Rare(8/10)

Era

circa 1840-1865

Origin

🇺🇸 United States

Authenticity

Moderate(65%)
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MID-19TH CENTURY SLAVE LEDGER (REGISTER OF NEGROES): IDENTIFICATION

A manuscript ledger on blue-tinted lined account paper, bearing the header 'Register of Negroes'. The document catalogs enslaved individuals by name, listing maternal parentage, birth dates ranging from 1795 to 1864, and occasional death dates. Significant annotations include acquisition details such as 'bo't of [bought of]' specific estates (e.g., 'Mason Est', 'W. S. Mason'), and fate notations including 'sold Jany 1864' and 'Went with Yankees Decem 1864'. The handwriting is a consistent 19th-century cursive, most likely the hand of a plantation overseer or owner in the American South.

Compare with other relics in the archive: Boy Scouts of America Fleur-de-lis Whistle, Catholic Donor Recognition Broadside - Early 20th Century Lithograph, Egyptian Ushabti (Shabti) Figurine - Late Period (c. 664–332 BC).

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

United States Reconstruction Era1865-1877

Similar lists became the basis for the Freedmen's Bureau records post-1865.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Plantation accounting and the systematic dehumanization of labor through bureaucratic documentation.

Meaning Through Time

Pre-1865

These documents functioned as property inventory for taxation and inheritance.

Modern Era

These lists represent vital 'bridge' documents for descendant genealogy and reparations research.

PERIOD & PROVENANCE

Created during the antebellum and Civil War era in the United States, this ledger is a primary source documenting the chattel slavery system. The specific entries mentioning 'Yankees' in December 1864 suggest a location in the path of Union Army advancements, potentially during Sherman's March or ...
Created during the antebellum and Civil War era in the United States, this ledger is a primary source documenting the chattel slavery system. The specific entries mentioning 'Yankees' in December 1864 suggest a location in the path of Union Army advancements, potentially during Sherman's March or similar campaigns. Documents of this nature were essential for property management and tax records until the ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865. The names and dates provided are critical for genealogical research related to African American history, as they often bridge the gap in records prior to the 1870 Federal Census.

COLLECTOR NOTES

1

A ledger entry dated 'Decem 1864' notes an individual 'Went with Yankees', documenting the self-emancipation of enslaved persons as Union troops moved through Confederate territory.

SCARCITY

Very Rare95-98%
CommonLegendary

Museum-quality consideration with documented examples tracked by specialists. Appear at auction perhaps once a year.

Rarity 8/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 1 relics item at rarity 8 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Museum-quality consideration
  • Tracked by specialists
  • Auction house highlight pieces

Confidence Factors

  • High demand for Civil War-era African American history items leads to some modern forgeries on period-correct paper
  • Consistency of ink oxidation and handwriting style across different dated entries suggests a genuine contemporary record
  • Specificity of names (e.g., 'George Wynn Rives') provides a verifiable link to historical estates
How does authenticity detection work?

HISTORIAN'S ASSESSMENT

Rare Book Dealer & Bibliographer

Bibliographer

High confidence due to the specificity of the entries, the correct material indicators (ledger blue paper and iron gall ink), and the historical linguistic markers unique to the 1860s Civil War context.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Presence of 'iron gall' ink characteristics, specifically the browning over time through acidic reaction with the paper.
  • 2The use of 'ledger blue' paper, a specific stationery staple of the 1840s-1860s.
  • 3Internal consistency of dated entries from the late 18th century through the mid-19th century.
  • 4Specific historical notation regarding the 'Yankees' in 1864, placing the item geographically and temporally in the American Civil War.
  • 5Reference to specific surnames (Rives, Mason, Parker) that align with known Virginia and North Carolina plantation families.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •While the paper and ink appear correct, provenance from a documented estate would be necessary to completely rule out sophisticated 'aging' of blank period paper.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →UV light examination to check for any modern fluorescent additives in the paper or ink.
  • →Cross-referencing names like 'George Wynn Rives' against the 1850 and 1860 Federal Slave Schedules in Virginia or North Carolina.
  • →Consultation with an archival specialist regarding the specific 'Mason Estate' mentioned in the text.

CONDITION & GRADE

Grading breakdown

Standard bibliographic grading does not apply to unique manuscript material; however, legibility remains high (approx. 95%), which significantly impacts historical value.

Condition

Moderate foxing and darkening at the edges consistent with environmental exposure. Evidence of original vertical and horizontal fold lines where the document was potentially stored in a pocket or ledger book. Minor edge fraying and small losses at the corners do not affect the legibility of the text.

HISTORICAL ARTIFACT VALUATION

$2,500 - $7,500

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Institutional archives, university libraries, and private collectors of African American history and Civil War manuscripts.

What increases value

  • •Legibility of names and dates for genealogical research
  • •Specific mention of 'Went with Yankees' documenting a historic event
  • •The density of data (over 40 names listed)

What lowers value

  • •Lack of provenance linking it to a specific family or plantation could hinder institutional acquisition
  • •Damage to the edges and folds if not stabilized in acid-free housing

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Complete provenance from a known historical estate
  • •Perfect legibility with no significant ink erosion
  • •Direct links to famous historical military campaigns

Grade & condition

Legibility of text, paper stability, and the level of specific detail provided in the annotations.

Rarity & demand

Very RareHigh demandModerate liquidity
Browse similar relics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

DE

denahaas
Wonderseeker•2 items

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