Authentic, original woodcut engraving with a very detailed scene of slaves celebrating in the Beaufort, South Carolina parlor of their master, Senator Robert W. Barnwell. This illustration was published in 1862 in Harper's Weekly, New York. Caption: Scene In The Parlor Of Mr. Barnwell's House At Beaufort, South Carolina. Note the "Dixie's Land" sheet music on the piano is upside down. Sketched By Our Special Artist. Although this particular engraving is undated, it definitely appeared on the front page of the January 18, 1862 issue of Harper's Weekly as per my research. 9 3/4 x 6 1/2. Excellent condition.

Senator Robert W. Barnwell: (1801-82) Born in Beaufort, South Carolina. A delegate to the Confederate secession convention, he caste a deciding vote for Jefferson Davis to be the President of the C.S.A. He served in the Confederate States Senate from 1861-1865, playing a crucial role in secession, and the formation of the Confederacy, while his cousin Robert Barnwell Rhett (1800-1876), also from Beaufort, and a fervent secessionist, was a key figure in the Confederacy as well, serving in the Provisional Confederate Congress.

This steel plate engraving as stated above was printed in Harper's Weekly. Oftentimes when I buy a large collection of Civil War illustrated newspapers many of them are damaged and can not be sold as complete issues. What is common is to sell individual engravings separately, which are very popular, as you are purchasing a genuine piece of Civil War history and they are an inexpensive way to put together a nice collection of war time illustrations that were drawn by some of the best artist in the country during that period. Since action photography had not been perfected at this time, these illustrators brought the next best thing into the parlors of Civil War families.