2020-07 2 sessions
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/23/2020
Cabinet card photograph of Balmer's South African Kaffir Choir, depicting James Balmer and fourteen members of the choir who are dressed in native attire. Back mark of "The Royal" Photograph Studio of Boston, Massachusetts. Period purple stamp "South African Kaffir Choir. James H. Balmer, Manager. Permanent Address, P.O. Box 2160 New York City." Fine condition. James Balmer is known to have taken a troupe of males and females to the U.S.A. in the 1890s where, failing to earn sufficient money, they were abandoned - and famously, rescued by black Americans whose support allowed some to attend college and to return to South Africa able to help their people.
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