321
321
●
GARVEY, MARCUS AND
THE U.N.I.A. (FOLK ART.)
Hand-
carved letter opener made from
ebony wood,
with the head of an
African at the top, and a long tapered
“blade” with the words “ship with Black
Star Line” carved along one side; 8
1
⁄
8
inches; nice, warm patina.
Np, circa 1920’s
[500/750]
A very nicely carved home-made letter-opener
probably made by a member of the U.N.I.A.
for use in their office.
320
●
GARVEY, MARCUS.
Black Star Line Steamship Corporation.
Large, accor-
dion-style prospectus, made from a single elephant folio sheet (14 x 25 inches), folded to
form six tall folio pages with illustrations from photographs; a few chips and closed tears;
paper evenly toned.
New York City: The Negro World, [Circa October 30, 1919]
[4,000/6,000]
The Black Star Line was to be Marcus Garvey’s signature achievement in terms of offering
black people a chance at economic parity with whites - however it would prove to be the
weapon used by his avowed enemy, J Edgar Hoover to cause his downfall. As early as 1917,
Garvey and his allies advocating economic and social parity with whites had set off alarms
within the U.S. government, and its judicial arm, the F.B.I. J. Edgar Hoover was in charge of a
special unit devoted to rooting out “seditious” individuals or groups, and Marcus Garvey was
high on Hoover’s list. From 1918 onward, the U.N.I.A. was completely infiltrated with infor-
mants. “Every Negro Should Buy Stocks in The Black Star Steamship Corporation. . .Will
Open Up Untold Possibilities for the Race. . .You Can Buy From One to Two Hundred
Shares at $5.00 Each.” This elaborate brochure introduces Captain Cockburn, the Commander
for the first ship-to be christened the Frederick Douglass. George Tobias, Jeremiah M. Certain,
Ed. Smith-Green and other officers are pictured. Attached at the last page is a subscription blank
for ordering shares. A full-page illustration of this prospectus appears at page 136 of Volume II
of the U.N.I.A. Papers.
NO OTHER COPY OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS LOCATED BY OCLC
.
320
