[CARTOGRAPHIC RACISM]. [AMOS 'N ANDY]. Eagle's-Eye View of Weber City (Inc.)
by Amos Jones and Andy Brown, "mapmakers" (Amos 'n Andy, i.e. Charles Correll and Freeman Gosden)
- Used
- good
- Condition
- Good
- Seller
-
Lockhart, Texas, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Chicago: Gwindell Printing Co. for Pepsodent, 1935. Good. Together 3 items: large folding map (38.5 x 50 cm) folded three times as issued (EXCELLENT condition); accompanied by original printed letter (designed to look "handwritten") in Ebonics (a little smudged, otherwise GOOD); with the original mailing envelop with the faces of Amos and Andy on the front (FAIR condition only: soiled and stained, back flap torn, last name and address of the addressee cancelled in ink). Offensive fictional map of the town where Amos and Andy reputedly resided, with streets, buildings, and houses from the show identified. The text is written in Ebonics and is filled with misspellings and backwards letters.
"Amos 'n Andy" was a wildly popular American radio sitcom about two black characters, written and voiced by two white actors. The show was overtly rascist, playing into stereotypes of simple-minded, clownish, and lazy African-Americans. The show was sponsored by Pepsodent until 1938. The importance of Pepsodent's "Amos 'n Andy" campaign in American social history has been explored by Ben Medeiros in "Restoring Whiteness, Sanitizing Blackness, and Authenticating Modern Artifice: Pepsodent Toothpaste and the Visual Branding of Amos 'n' Andy" (Historical Journal of Film, Radio, and Television, 2018).
The map perpetuates the bespoke racisict characterizations, with the cartoonish residents looking like buffoonish ants. It is accompanied by the original printed "handwritten" letter of solicitation, likewise written in Ebonics (included also is the original mailing envelope with Amos and Andy in blackface makeup).
"Amos 'n Andy" was a wildly popular American radio sitcom about two black characters, written and voiced by two white actors. The show was overtly rascist, playing into stereotypes of simple-minded, clownish, and lazy African-Americans. The show was sponsored by Pepsodent until 1938. The importance of Pepsodent's "Amos 'n Andy" campaign in American social history has been explored by Ben Medeiros in "Restoring Whiteness, Sanitizing Blackness, and Authenticating Modern Artifice: Pepsodent Toothpaste and the Visual Branding of Amos 'n' Andy" (Historical Journal of Film, Radio, and Television, 2018).
The map perpetuates the bespoke racisict characterizations, with the cartoonish residents looking like buffoonish ants. It is accompanied by the original printed "handwritten" letter of solicitation, likewise written in Ebonics (included also is the original mailing envelope with Amos and Andy in blackface makeup).
Details
- Bookseller
- Michael Laird Rare Books LLC (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 3788
- Title
- [CARTOGRAPHIC RACISM]. [AMOS 'N ANDY]. Eagle's-Eye View of Weber City (Inc.)
- Author
- Amos Jones and Andy Brown, "mapmakers" (Amos 'n Andy, i.e. Charles Correll and Freeman Gosden)
- Book Condition
- Used - Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- Gwindell Printing Co. for Pepsodent
- Place of Publication
- Chicago
- Date Published
- 1935
Terms of Sale
Michael Laird Rare Books LLC
14 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 14 days after delivery if an item arrives mis-described or damaged.
About the Seller
Michael Laird Rare Books LLC
Biblio member since 2007
Lockhart, Texas
About Michael Laird Rare Books LLC
Welcome to Michael Laird Rare Books, LLC. We specialize in fine and rare books, manuscripts, documents, ephemera, fine and historic bookbindings, and illustrated books of every description. Michael Laird is a member of the ABAA (Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America), ILAB (International League of Antiquarian Booksellers), and the Appraisers Association of America (USPAP compliant, and AAA certified in the appraisal of Rare and Antiquarian Printed Books). Michael Laird earned his masters degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin (1989) and has more thirty years experience in the antiquarian book trade. He is the principal Rare Book and Document appraiser at Winston Art Group (New York) and Gurr Johns (New York). From 2002 until 2013 he taught advanced graduate level courses in Rare Books and Special Collections (Palmer School of Library and Information Science at Long Island University, and the School of Information at The University of Texas at Austin School of Information).
We invite you to browse through a selection of our inventory: we strive to present the greatest historic detail and bibliographic accuracy, even for lesser priced - but no less interesting - items. We are happy to provide further images of any item: please inquire.
Order with confidence: we select every item with great care and discernment; moreover, we examine every page of every book. We are always interested in purchasing fine and rare books, manuscripts, and ephemera; please inquire. We very much appreciate your interest in our work, and your patronage. Thank you!
We invite you to browse through a selection of our inventory: we strive to present the greatest historic detail and bibliographic accuracy, even for lesser priced - but no less interesting - items. We are happy to provide further images of any item: please inquire.
Order with confidence: we select every item with great care and discernment; moreover, we examine every page of every book. We are always interested in purchasing fine and rare books, manuscripts, and ephemera; please inquire. We very much appreciate your interest in our work, and your patronage. Thank you!
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Soiled
- Generally refers to minor discoloration or staining.