Engraving representing scenes from Nat Turner's rebellion in Virginia in 1831. The same figures appeared in the 1835 engraving of the Seminole war -- purchased from the same company. Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, LC-USZ62-38902.
In the early 1800s, newspapers routinely used such "types," as they were called, to represent various classes and events in society. Only a limited number of types were available for sale, which led to near-standard print representations of Indians and African Americans. The practice not only contributed to stereotyping, but may have produced the word, which has been standard in English only since the early 20th century.
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