Charleston, South Carolina, was the only city in the antebellum South to issue these tags or badges which had to be worn by any slave that was "hired out". Each year a slave owner who hired out a slave had to pay a tax and the slave had to wear a brass "Salve Tag" proving the tax had been paid. The greater the skill and training required, the greater the tax. Charleston slave tags are known from 1800 up to the Civil War. We have offered several great groupings of slave tags in past auctions and now offer the largest and finest collection to ever come to auction representing most every form, all in excellent condition with no repairs and all complete. All of these badges were excavated around various sites around Charleston. 1) 1803 round "PORTER". This is an example of the earliest style, being the largest, measuring 2-7/8" dia. This style is only noted from 1801-1807, with few examples ever coming to market. All tags made these years are maker marked "C PRINCE" (Charles Prince, Charleston silversmith) in cartouche on reverse. 2) 1815 diamond-shaped "SERVANT". 2", maker marked "LAFAR". John Joseph LaFar was a Charleston silversmith and city marshal having contract to make these badges after Charles Prince. 3) 1817 domed diamond-shaped "SERVANT". 1-15/16", maker marked "LAFAR" on reverse. Each year tags were changed so that inspectors could differentiate from an earlier tag with minor differences in shape or configuration making sure tax was paid on a slave working in the city. This domed highly convex (about 3/16") configuration is not often seen. 4) 1818 square "MECHANIC". 2", maker marked "LAFAR" on reverse. 5) 1820 square "SERVANT". 2", maker marked "LAFAR" on reverse. 6) 1824 Square "SERVANT". 2", maker marked "LAFAR" below serial number "No. 1215". 7) 1832 diamond-shaped "FISHER". 2". The occupation of "Fisher" is quite rare and this is a fine example from 1832 were the date is marked in a scalloped cartouche, the only year this "bow tie" design was used. 8) 1833 diamond-shaped "SERVANT". 2". 9) 1834 diamond-shaped "SERVANT". 2". Note that the only difference between the 1833-1834 "SERVANT" is the placement of the serial number and its die size which is now larger and stamped below instead of above the occupation. 10) 1836 diamond shaped "SERVANT". 2". This variant has a dotted border around "SERVANT". 11) 1838 diamond Shaped "SERVANT". 1-3/4". This example is made by same maker as the 1836 badge with the dotted border around the occupation. Note that the size of badge has gotten smaller in one year. 12) 1842 Diamond shaped "SERVANT". 1-3/4". This example by same maker as the 1836 and 1838 tags above, date and serial number stamps however are reversed for inspectors to differentiate without close scrutiny. 13) 1844 Diamond shaped "FRUITERER". 1-3/4". "Fruiterer" is a very rare occupation, stamping is actually "FRUITERER&". A Fruiterer was a specialized vegetable or fruit picker. (14) 1847 square "PORTER". 1-5/8". 15) 1850 diamond-shaped "SERVANT". 1-9/16". SIZE: CONDITION: Good to fine overall. All badges have well discerned markings including; "CHARLESTON" arched cartouches, serial numbers, dates, occupations and makers marks. Badges have varying surfaces from quite smooth to lightly pitted, most have original patinas though (3) 1817 "SERVANT" has been cleaned with a red copper color with light verdigris in recesses. (10) Still retains "as excavated" light green/brown surface, other tags are all cleaned and have toned various shades of olive, chocolate and brown patinas. 50129-1 JS (60,000-90,000)