[AFRICAN COLONIALISM FOR CHILDREN]. Photo Album of Belgian Children (novitiates?) posed as missionary nuns, some of whom are in blackface
by [Vernacular photo album]
- Used
- very good
- Condition
- Very good
- Seller
-
Lockhart, Texas, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Belgium, 1938. Very good. Small album (4" by 5.5"), containing 12 unnumbered black (blank) leaves, with seven (7) original photographs affixed to the leaves within paper corner mounts; each photo is captioned in MS in white ink in French in the margins. Album: contemporary "faux crocodile skin" embossed paper boards, fastened with brown cord (minor surface rubbing and wear to extremities). AN UNSETTLING AND VISCERAL EXAMPLE OF 1938 COLONIALISM AND MISSIONARY WORK INFUSED BY ADULTS INTO CHILD'S PLAY.
In this small photo album are seven (7) photos of very yound Belgian girls, three of whom are being groomed to become missionaries in Africa, and four have been painted in blackface and adorned in shawls, pretending to be Africans ready for conversion to Christianity. The captions and photos are arranged sequentially, and tell the story of three missionary nuns who went "chez les n___rillons." NB: then, as now, this word is derogatory and diminutive; it could be translated as "pickaninny" or "little n____rs."
The handwritten captions of the photos are as follows:
1. Vocation précoce! avril 1939. ("Early calling! April 1938").
2. Il est 3 missionaires... ("There are 3 missionaries...")
3. Qui vont partir chez les n___rillons... ("Who are going to go to the home of the little n____rs...")
4. avant de nous envoler vers le soleil ("before we fly towards the sun")
5. d'afrique, goûtons le soleil de Belgique. ("of Africa, let's taste the Belgian sun")
6. Missionnaire d'un jour ("Missionary for a day")
7. La plus jeune missionnaire des Dames de Marie Soeur Marie Simonne 7 ans 1/2 ("The youngest
missionary of the Ladies of Mary [is] Sister Marie Simonne 7 1/2 years old).
MUST BE SEEN TO BE FULLY APPRECIATED.
In this small photo album are seven (7) photos of very yound Belgian girls, three of whom are being groomed to become missionaries in Africa, and four have been painted in blackface and adorned in shawls, pretending to be Africans ready for conversion to Christianity. The captions and photos are arranged sequentially, and tell the story of three missionary nuns who went "chez les n___rillons." NB: then, as now, this word is derogatory and diminutive; it could be translated as "pickaninny" or "little n____rs."
The handwritten captions of the photos are as follows:
1. Vocation précoce! avril 1939. ("Early calling! April 1938").
2. Il est 3 missionaires... ("There are 3 missionaries...")
3. Qui vont partir chez les n___rillons... ("Who are going to go to the home of the little n____rs...")
4. avant de nous envoler vers le soleil ("before we fly towards the sun")
5. d'afrique, goûtons le soleil de Belgique. ("of Africa, let's taste the Belgian sun")
6. Missionnaire d'un jour ("Missionary for a day")
7. La plus jeune missionnaire des Dames de Marie Soeur Marie Simonne 7 ans 1/2 ("The youngest
missionary of the Ladies of Mary [is] Sister Marie Simonne 7 1/2 years old).
MUST BE SEEN TO BE FULLY APPRECIATED.
Details
- Bookseller
- Michael Laird Rare Books LLC (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 4003
- Title
- [AFRICAN COLONIALISM FOR CHILDREN]. Photo Album of Belgian Children (novitiates?) posed as missionary nuns, some of whom are in blackface
- Author
- [Vernacular photo album]
- Book Condition
- Used - Very good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Place of Publication
- Belgium
- Date Published
- 1938
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
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
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