Commemorative, Historical and Art Medals

British Guiana, Slave Trade, base metal livery buttons (3), c. 1820, stamped t porter within circle, 21mm [3]. Varied state £30-50

Provenance: Stack’s Auction (New York), 19 January 2005, lot 2440 (part).

Thomas H. Porter was a slave owner who had a slave trading post in the British West Indies from 1815-30 and is said to have leased his slaves around the world. His slaves were dressed in livery bearing buttons with his name and/or initials on them. Examples in a similar state that have appeared on the market are said to have been excavated in British Guiana [Guyana]