Antislavery Wafers

Ephemera

c. 1850

Massachusetts Historical Society

A sheet of paper with sixty rectangular labels bearing anti-slavery messages. The labels are printed, and most of them are titled "ANTI-SLAVERY." Each label bears a different message that fits neatly into the label space. "NO UNION with SLAVEHOLDERS" one reads. Another states "Be not partakers of other men

Abolitionists drew many of their arguments from the Christian Bible, religious leaders, and American political leaders—including slaveholder Thomas Jefferson. They used wafers like these, which are attributed to the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society (c. 1850), to seal envelopes, putting their message in unexpected places.

Wafers could be detached and used to seal envelopes.

Attributed to Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, circa 1850.

Abolitionism

Demonstration

Words

Ephemera