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  ABRAHAM LINCOLN MEMORIAL BANNER WITH A DRAMATIC PORTRAIT IMAGE, LAST QUARTER 19TH CENTURY - 1909

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 68.75" x 52.5"
Flag Size (H x L): 56" x 39.5"
Description....:
ABRAHAM LINCOLN MEMORIAL BANNER WITH A DRAMATIC PORTRAIT IMAGE, LAST QUARTER 19TH CENTURY - 1909:

Early banners depicting portraits of American presidents are highly desired by collectors of political memorabilia, but none as much as those made for Abraham Lincoln. This particular banner was not made as a campaign piece, but rather in memorium of the beloved president, made sometime during the last decade of the 19th century or possibly in 1909 in celebration of the centennial of his birth. I know of no others to have survived in this exact style, which shows a bearded image of Lincoln, framed in an oval medallion that is decorated with oak leaves and other greenery. The frame is crowned by an eagle and flanked by blue ribbons at the top and two American flags at the bottom, which appear on staffs, topped with liberty caps.

The banner is signed below Lincoln's name: "Acme Sign Printing Co., Dayton, OH". I can find no record of the company prior to 1892, which seems to have been the date of its inception. Five colors were used in the printing, some of which were overlapped to make additional colors, such as the brown for the acorns.

Because all early Lincoln banners are rare, especially thos large in scale, the acquisition of this rather dynamic example from a private collection in Chicago was an extraordinary find.

Mounting: The banner has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton, black in color, which has been washed to reduce excess dye. And 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 black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed Italian molding. A deep shadow box was created to accommodate the rod. The front is u.v. protective acrylic.

Condition: There is minor foxing and staining throughout, accompanied by minor wear with associated loss, particular along the bottom, as expected. The banner had been removed from its original staff, so I added the great, black-painted rod, ca 1830-1870, with acorn style finials, which I have owned for about 15 years, hoping to give it a proper home. The rod was shortened to accommodate the banner.
Collector Level: Flags for the truest Patriots. My best offerings
Flag Type:
Star Count:
Earliest Date of Origin: 1892
Latest Date of Origin: 1909
State/Affiliation: Illinois
War Association: 1861-1865 Civil War
Price: SOLD
 

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