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  RARE BANNER MADE FOR THE 1860 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN & HAMMIBAL HAMLIN, THE PLATE EXAMPLE FROM THE BOOK "THREADS OF HISTORY", WHICH SERVES AS THE FOREMOST REFERENCE IN POLITICAL FLAG COLLECTING

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 49.75" x 50.5"
Flag Size (H x L): 31.5" x 39.75"
Description....:
RARE BANNER MADE FOR THE 1860 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN & HAMMIBAL HAMLIN, THE PLATE EXAMPLE FROM THE BOOK "THREADS OF HISTORY", WHICH SERVES AS THE FOREMOST REFERENCE IN POLITICAL FLAG COLLECTING:

Period, hand-made banners made from the 1860 and 1864 campaigns of Abraham Lincoln are as rare as they are coveted. So few exist that if a collector owns one, it is a considerable asset. I am aware of a few collectors that do, but I am not aware of more than one who owns own multiple, legitimate Lincoln banners. Of the fourteen examples that are illustrated in the book "Threads of History", by Herbert Ridgeway Collins (Smithsonian Press, 1979), twelve are institutionalized. Two were once held in a private collection that has since been dismantled. This is one of those two and it appears in the Collins text as item 288 on page 155.

Measuring three-by-three feet, the banner is made of white cotton that has been block-printed with black pigment and reads simply: "Lincoln & Hamlin!". Lack of a fanciful design is made up for by the generous size in comparison to many political textiles, complimented by the large characters which provide a bold impact. The style of the lettering is both charming and distinctly mid-19th century.

Attractive presentation, plus extreme rarity, plus use in the campaign of one of America's two most important presidents, plus illustration in the Bible of political textile collecting, equals an object of great significance.

It is interesting to note that Lincoln was hardly the favorite at the beginning of the campaign, winning the Republican nomination from the 3rd ticket. He then defeated John Bell (Constitution Party), John Breckinridge (Southern Democrat), and Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat), to become the Republican party's first president. Lincoln was elected with a mere thirty-nine percent of the vote and carried no state south of the Mason-Dixon line.

Mounting: The banner has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton twill, black in color. The fabric has been washed to remove excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose. The mount was then placed in a modern gold frame with a black liner. The glazing is U.V. protective acrylic.

Condition: There is some fading of the black pigment, accompanied by some foxing and water-staining. There is a very minor hole in the body of the banner and some tiny ones along the top edge, where it was tacked to a staff at one time. The overall condition is quite excellent for a banner of this nature with an 1860 date. Many of my clients prefer early textiles to show their age and history of use. Further, the extreme rarity of Lincoln campaign banners would warrant practically any condition.
Collector Level: Flags for the truest Patriots. My best offerings
Flag Type:
Star Count:
Earliest Date of Origin: 1860
Latest Date of Origin: 1860
State/Affiliation: Illinois
War Association: 1861-1865 Civil War
Price: SOLD
 

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