The Brutality of 19th-Century Slave Auctions: A Historical Engraving #11326 (License: Personal Use)

The image is a detailed black-and-white engraving from the mid-19th century, likely published in an abolitionist newspaper or pamphlet. It shows a crowded indoor auction scene: several Black men and women stand barefoot on a wooden platform while white men in formal attire examine them closely, some lifting clothing or inspecting physical features. Signs in the background-including one reading “For Sale” and another referencing “Tobacco”-contextualize the commercial nature of the event, underscoring the systemic commodification of human beings.

This image is commonly used in educational resources, museum exhibits, and digital archives addressing U.S. slavery, antebellum history, and abolitionist movements; it serves users seeking historical documentation of racial injustice and institutionalized oppression.