Immigration Panic: Why Statue of Liberty's Poetess Welcomed Refugees

YONKERS, N.Y., Dec. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A researcher says a newly discovered letter of Emma Lazarus, authoress of "Give me your tired, your poor..." on the Statue of Liberty's pedestal, reveals her plan for rescuing refugees.  The letter will appear at a Yonkers, N.Y. auction on Jan. 5, 2016.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151223/317990
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151223/317991

Working for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society – still saving worldwide refugees today – Lazarus witnessed some 2,000 Russian-Jewish refugees arriving monthly in New York.

It is postulated that these emigres, fleeing horrific attacks and turmoil, stirred her desire in this letter to republish "An Epistle to the Hebrews."

Completed in 1883 – the same year in which she wrote the Statue of Liberty's words – Lazarus' suite of fourteen weekly "Epistle" essays appeared in her addressee's newspaper.  "Epistle" became her "ordeal of a lifetime," according to Lazarus' Princeton biographer.

Researcher Bob Snyder of Cohasco, Inc. states that Lazarus autographic material is rarely seen on the market, and is one of the most elusive nineteenth-century American autographs, due to her death at just 38.  "The letter suggests the bedrock for modern American immigration policy," Snyder says.  (Preauction estimate $22,000-32,000)  Lot 15-1; full description at http://cohascodpc.com/cat65/cat65-auction.html

Offered separately: a scarce 1783 newspaper, the citizens of Philadelphia seeking "deportation of Foreigners, to...prevent this State from becoming a receptacle for the outcasts of America."  The paper implores expulsion of enemies who "feasted with a malevolent satisfaction on the horrid catalogue of murders and devastations...." A front-page chart details the U.S. national debt, then just $42 million (estimate $225-325) Lot 13-3 at http://cohascodpc.com/cat65/cat65-auction.html

Among 400 other historical documents and collectibles in 20 categories:

• A musicologist's archive of over 235 pieces of big band and jazz memorabilia, 1926-66.  Historic nights represented include 1937's Benny Goodman vs. Chick Webb Battle of Swing, an early Louis Armstrong gig at the Apollo, Glenn Miller at CBS Radio Theatre, and many others (estimate $5400-6500).

• A never-published original drawing of Sutter's Mill, made on the spot by a pioneer Gold Rush adventurer and trained fine artist – who was the locality's Justice of the Peace (estimate $5000-8000).

• Five letters from the founder of Denver, Colorado, with on-the-spot reporting on the bitterly-contested 1876 Presidential election, just decided in Congress:  "The deed is done and the American people are to be cheated out of their choice for the Presidency...I have not yet seen a single Republican who had the face to stand up and defend the act...If the people do not rise up in their might and rebuke this outrage...there will be no use in ever again holding an election...." (estimate $4000-6000).

• Fatefully dated signed edition of Hitler's Mein Kampf, printed 1933, the year he seized power (estimate $5500-7000).

• 1837 pamphlet on the "ever growing tide" of Americans invading Mexico! (estimate $80-110).

• The famous - and rare - newspaper on George Washington's 1775 appointment as Commander-in-Chief:  "Congress doth now declare, that they will...adhere to him...with their lives and fortunes..." (estimate $2200-2800).

• 1770 newspaper from the aftermath of the Boston Massacre: "all the inhabitants shall be deprived of their fire arms...." Its masthead featuring Paul Revere's first newspaper design, only one other issue is known (estimate $1200-1600).

• The atlas by America's very first stationer, printed in Baltimore c. 1823.  Its 98 hand-watercolored maps comprise a landmark work in cartography (estimate $7500-11,000).

Bids will be accepted up to January 5, 2016, 8:00 P.M. E.D.S.T.  All items are fully described at http://cohascodpc.com.  A 136-page printed catalogue is available by mail.

About Cohasco, Inc.:  Established 69 years, Cohasco is a dealer in and auctioneer of historical documents, manuscripts, books, antiquarian materials and collectibles.  Over the years they have handled the sale of numerous prominent collections, in a range of fields, from colonial to Confederate, mediaeval to modern.  Past highlights included the lamps that illuminated Lincoln's wedding, an archive of America's first "mass-produced" automobile, the Duryea, and the Bible owned by Martin Luther King, Jr.'s mother, setting a world record price for a twentieth-century Bible.

COHASCO, INC.
P.O. Drawer 821 
Yonkers, NY 10702

Contact: Bob Snyder 
1-914-476-8500
http://cohascodpc.com
http://dpc.nu
Email

Established 1946

COLOR IMAGES AVAILABLE

SOURCE Cohasco, Inc.

Related Links

http://cohascodpc.com