NY Times corrects 1853 article on '12 Years a Slave' tale

The story, shown here in a digital image provided by the Times, described the article as "a more complete and authentic record than has yet appeared"

The New York Times has published a correction to an article published 161 years ago on the case portrayed in the Oscar-winning film 12 Years a Slave.

The story published on 20 January 1853 chronicles the kidnapping and enslavement of a free black man named Solomon Northup.

In the piece Northup's name was misspelled twice, as Northrop and Northrup.

The error was discovered after a digital copy circulated in recent days.

Rebecca Skloot, author of the best-selling non-fiction book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, brought the initial error to light, tweeting a link to the story on Monday.

The correction was published in Tuesday's New York Times.

12 Years a Slave won three Academy Awards on Sunday: Best Picture, Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role by Lupita Nyong'o.

Northup was portrayed in the film by Chiwetel Ejiofor (centre right, no hat)