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  IMPORTANT ABRAHAM LINCOLN PORTRAIT FLAG WITH 13 STARS AND "WIDE AWAKE" SLOGAN, FROM THE 1860 CAMPAIGN WITH VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HANNIBAL HAMLIN, AKIN TO A FLAG IN THE COLLECTION AT FORD'S THEATER; EXHIBITED AT THE MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION FROM JUNE – JULY, 2019

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 23.5" x 30"
Flag Size (H x L): 11.5" x 17.5"
Description....:
This rare political flag is an extremely important object in the world of American flag and political campaign collecting. Not only is this due to its use by Abraham Lincoln during his first campaign for the White House with running mate Hannibal Hamlin in 1860, but even more because of the presence of his portrait, printed in relief in the center of the canton. Among printed parade flags, those specifically used for political campaigning, with advertising of the candidates’ names, faces, and slogans, are by far the most valuable. Among this subsection, those flags pertaining to the two campaigns of Abraham Lincoln are collectively the most widely desired. There are more rare flags, such as those made for Horace Greeley, Winfield Scott, or Millard Fillmore, among which scarcely any examples have survived, but there is no 19th century American personality so beloved as Lincoln and no 19th century event that has so enamored our nation’s focus on history than the study of the Civil War. Further, among the existing flags that relate to our 16th president’s aspirations for our nation’s highest office, none are so sought after and desired than those containing his image. Numerous top collectors of political flags have left the hobby, or continue to collect today, without ever being lucky enough to acquire one.

This 1860 flag, which bears 13 stars, is a gem among its rare and prized counterparts. The distinct beardless portrait of the would-be president was engraved in the likeness of an image captured by Chicago photographer Samuel M. Fassett on October 4th, 1859, around the time of his famous debates with Stephen Douglas. The portrait is framed by parenthesis-like arches of stars on either side, with a star in each corner of the canton and a single one beneath in the bottom center. Arched above are the words "Wide Awake".

The Wide Awakes was a Republican fraternal organization, the members of which were Abraham Lincoln’s foremost supporters. Not to be confused with a New York organization by the same name, loosely associated with the American Party and part of the nativist movement of the 1840’s and early 50’s, this Wide Awakes was born in Hartford, Connecticut, about a week before Lincoln arrived there for a campaign speech in 1860. When Kentucky emancipationist Cassius Clay, politician, general, and friend of the future president, came to speak on February 25th of that year, he was escorted by a group of young men from the city. This was as much for Clay’s own protection as it was to demonstrate support of abolition. Political talks could be especially dangerous, and many such rallies were held at night, accompanied by torch-lit parades. There was, as of yet, no secret service.

In the procession that took place that evening, some of the torch-carrying men were employed at a local dry goods store. When they passed the storefront, legend has it that they rushed inside and emerged with lengths of black, glazed, cambric cloth, draped over their heads to keep whale oil from dripping on them. The darkly cloaked men attracted such attention that they were asked to move up to the lead. Little did they know that these industrious outfits would cause such a stir in the press that black, glazed caps and capes would soon become the official dress of their emerging club.

The following week, on March 5th, Lincoln himself came to Hartford to kick off Republican campaigning in the state. When he did, the same men turned up to offer support and protection, as they had for Clay, wearing the same garb. The next morning, the Hartford Currant reported that “The Republicans are wide awake” for Lincoln-Hamlin, addressing its readership with the following plea: “Citizens of Connecticut, this is no time to hesitate! This is no time to sleep!”

The term “Wide Awakes” was not brand-new. It had, in fact, been used by some Republican groups since at least 1856, when the newly formed party’s first nominee, John Frémont, sought to gain the White House. Other independent organizations bore a variety of names, but after news of the Hartford Wide Awakes spread across the country like wildfire, in support of Lincoln’s candidacy, many changed their names, submitting application for membership through the Hartford chapter. The result was one of the most powerful campaign organizations in American political history.

Known for their torchlight parades, the seventy-five cent dues charged by some chapters was slated for the provision of a parade torch. The watchful eye that became their logo was a long-popular symbol of the Masons, and is still present today on the U.S. dollar. Representing the eye of God, this was an obvious fit with both the name and ideological purpose of the group.

Clubs flooded every Northern State, as well as some cities of the upper-South, such as Baltimore, Wheeling, and St. Louis. In Lincoln’s home state of Illinois, chapters were established in nearly every village and hamlet (save for the Southern-most portion, known as “Lower Egypt.") By early June, Chicago had become home to a large chapter, already 1,000 members strong. Processions of 500 to 1,000 marchers became common, each one with a blazing torch or lantern.

By the time of the election, in the brief, eight-month period between the emergence of the Hartford Wide-Awakes in March, and the presidential election in November, national membership of the organization swelled to half-a-million. A procession of 10,000 marchers, three miles in length, paraded in Chicago on October 3rd, 1860. Dramatic accounts of their presence were reported elsewhere, particularly in New York.

In one of the more memorable reports of the club’s activity, a band of political bosses are said to have gathered in a Manhattan tavern one night, ordering ale and cursing the Republican Party, while fearing the likelihood of secession. “They first heard the noise around midnight,” says one report. “From uptown came the clash of a marching band, followed by the advancing tread of hundreds of boots on the cobblestones of the Bowery. Soon the stench of burning oil filled their nostrils and the tavern's dark windows began to glow from the outside. The insiders spilled out onto the street to join a throng of dazed New Yorkers. There they watched as large formations of young men, clad in shimmering black capes and soldiers' kepi's, marched stalwartly down the middle of their island. Each bore a blazing torch, though none said a word. Pushing through the crowd, the politicians shouted, "Who are these Wide Awakes?”

Militaristic in nature, the Wide Awakes adopted a prescribed structure and bylaws. Officers assumed military titles, such as Captain, Lieutenant, etc.. Though sometimes categorized as paramilitary, the efforts were overwhelmingly for protection as opposed to aggression. In fact, period newspaper announcements, in places where club activities and events were communicated through the press, (there were sometimes thousands of members in a single chapter,) all of those involved were formally directed to steer clear of violence and reminded to raise no hand in physical aggression towards the opposition.

In such a heated moral and political climate, the military-related purpose of the Wide Awakes was primarily in the role of citizen-organized police. Members were generally known to stand their ground, as all over the nation the Wide Awakes escorted Lincoln and other Republican politicians to their various destinations, spread the message of the party’s purpose, and provided security at the polls, as well as oversight for fair election. In an era before such things as Secret Service, these were important functions. It was primarily the group’s Southern membership that was often blamed for arson and other crimes toward slave owners and secessionists. Here the opposition was undoubtedly stronger and fallout more aggressive, as chapters stood in direct opposition to pro-slavery organizations, such as the Klu Klux Klan.

Following his win, Lincoln attributed much of the driving force behind Republican victory to their actions. In deep gratitude, he invited the Hartford chapter to march with him at his inaugural parade. In spite of the scope of the organization, with thousands upon thousands of members, and hundreds upon hundreds of chapters, hats and cloaks are extremely rare, as are flags and banners. What does exist is highly coveted, falling among the holy grails of Lincoln campaign objects.

In addition to the Wide Awakes association, the large portrait amid 13 large stars and an interesting design are each of great importance. Most Lincoln flags with portraits have a smaller and less interesting image. This one is large with respect to the flag and whimsical with strong folk characteristics. The text is a key feature as well, in a bold, western-style font, sweeping across the stripes in a serpentine curve. Most Lincoln campaign flags bear the full star count and 13 star examples are rare among them. These are arranged in an interesting manner that adds impact to the striking overall graphics.

This flag is one of 5 or perhaps 6 known examples. One of these is owned by the National Park Service and displayed at Fords Theater in Washington, DC, the site of Lincoln's assassination. Two are featured as items 300 and 301 in “Threads of History: Americana Recorded on Cloth, 1775 to the Present,” by Herbert Ridgeway Collins, (1979, Smithsonian Press), p. 159-160. Collins formerly served as curator of political history at the Smithsonian and his text is considered the definitive reference on American political textiles. One of the two Collins examples is privately owned and the other was in the collection of the Lincoln National Life Foundation in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which operated the largest Lincoln museum. I owned an example of this design 12 years ago, now in a major collection, and there may be a sixth in a collection of equal magnitude.

Provenance: This flag was presented from June 14th – July 21st at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, in an exhibit entitled “A New Constellation.” Curated by Jeff Bridgman, this was the first ever, large scale exhibit of 13 star flags at a major museum. Previously sold by Jeff R. Bridgman Antiques to a private collector.

* Grinspan, Jon. “Young Men for War”: The Wide Awakes and Lincoln’s 1860 Presidential Campaign,” Journal of American History, 96 (Sept. 2009), 357–78.

Mounting: For 25 years we have maintained a specialized department for this purpose. Our lead conservator holds a master's degree in textile conservation from one of the nation’s top university programs. We take great care in the mounting and preservation of flags and related textiles and have preserved thousands of examples.

The gilded American molding dates to the period between 1840 and 1860. I married this to a wide concave liner with a dark brown surface that is nearly black with red highlights and overtones. The flag has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton, black in color, that was washed and treated for colorfastness. The glazing is museum acrylic (Plexiglas), U.V. protective, crystal clear but glare-reducing,, and scratch resistant.

Condition: This flag is in the best condition of all the known examples in this style. There is moderate foxing and staining. There is an L-shaped tear along the fly end in the canton, extending into the white area where the flag was formerly affixed to a wooden staff. Along this there are holes where metal tacks were once present to attach it. There is minor pigment loss and fading and there is minor fraying along the top edge of the canton, adjacent to the hoist end. Many of my clients prefer early flags to show their age and history of use. The flag presents exceptionally well and its extreme rarity and desirability warrant almost any condition.
Collector Level: Flags for the truest Patriots. My best offerings
Flag Type: Parade flag
Star Count: 13
Earliest Date of Origin: 1860
Latest Date of Origin: 1860
State/Affiliation: 13 Original Colonies
War Association: 1861-1865 Civil War
Price: SOLD
 

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