![Item #13085 New Year's Address to the Patrons of The Union. Sent by the Carrier Boy [contained on page 4 of THE UNION, Vol. 1, No. 49]. Carriers Address, Maine, Texas.](https://thejoefaycompany.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/13085.jpeg?width=768&height=1000&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1780949992)
![New Year's Address to the Patrons of The Union. Sent by the Carrier Boy [contained on page 4 of THE UNION, Vol. 1, No. 49].](https://thejoefaycompany.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/13085_2.jpeg?auto=webp&v=1780949992)
New Year's Address to the Patrons of The Union. Sent by the Carrier Boy [contained on page 4 of THE UNION, Vol. 1, No. 49].
Saco, ME: January 7, 1846. [4]pp. on a single large folio sheet of newsprint. Old folds, minor foxing, disbound from larger volume with tell-tale chips along binding edge. Still, very good condition. Item #13085
An unusual appearance of a carrier's address, printed on most of the back page of the January 7, 1846 issue of The Union newspaper, published in Saco, Maine. The address itself is printed in three columns and contains typical news of the day, particularly the imminent statehood of Texas and Oregon, the election of Polk, and Liberty Party presidential candidate James Birney (former slave owner turned abolitionist), and with several lines decrying the issue of slavery. An example of the latter from the middle column reads: "But change we now a while our verse, Disunion threatens with its curse The land, the great and good have blest With pure example, wise behest, And slavery rears her hideous head Among the sons of Freedom's dead. Was it t'enslave dark Afric's race, Our country braved a tyrant base? Unloosed our chains from England's Throne, To rivet them on those at home? How false the cry for Freedom dear From those who've strove from year to year T'extend to lands, which should be free, The blight of endless slavery!"
There is also a passage concerning both Texas AND slavery, also involving Birney: "As on the banks of Rio Grande The future slave of Texas stands And sees his children from him torn To bear the wrongs which he has borne, Hie eyes, suffused with bitter tears, Glance up the long vista of years Among the sufferings of his race, In hopes their author's name to trace; How does he start and heave a groan, Birney he sees stands out alone!" The address is also interesting for the elaborate ornamental border composed of printer's ornaments, including floral elements and patriotic symbols. This is the first time we have seen a carriers address integrated into the newspaper itself..
Price: $950