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  PRINTED COTTON KERCHIEF, MADE FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT IN 1932, A RARE EXAMPLE WITH AN ATTRACTIVE PORTRAIT

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 26.25" x 26.25"
Flag Size (H x L): 17" x 17.5"
Description....:
PRINTED COTTON KERCHIEF, MADE FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT IN 1932, A RARE EXAMPLE WITH AN ATTRACTIVE PORTRAIT:

Printed cotton kerchief, made for the presidential campaign of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932, when he ran and won against Republican incumbent president Herbert Hoover. A large portrait image, printed in black (faded to sepia), serves as the center medallion, along the bottom of which is Roosevelt's name. The companion piece exists to support the campaign of Hoover, except that the colors are different (blue and red versus black and blue), with the words "Our President" appearing at the bottom of the Hoover's Image, instead of his name. The Hoover example is scarce, but the FDR is surprisingly rare.

The images that surround the portrait of FDR are comprised of a series of 48 smaller, circular medallions, each of which bears a highly detailed illustration that reflects one of the 48 states. A patriotic eagle with a 13 star shield on its breast and an "E Pluribus Unum" streamer below flank each corner. The eagles and state medallions are printed in blue, and the background of the kerchief is white.

An example of this kerchief is documented as item 1088 on page 423 of "Threads of History, Americana Recorded on Cloth, 1775 - the Present", by Herbert Ridgeway Collins (1979, Smithsonian Press). Collins formerly served as the Smithsonian's curator of Political History and his book is the most comprehensive reference on political textiles.

A Brief Biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt:

After entering Harvard University in 1900, Franklin Roosevelt became active with the school newspaper Harvard Crimson. He became its editor in 1903 and that same year became engaged to Eleanor Roosevelt, his fifth cousin and the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt.

Enrolling in Columbia Law School in 1905, he passed the bar in 1907 and was employed by the prominent New York law firm Carter, Ledyard, and Milburn. In 1910 he was asked to run for the Democratic senate seat representing his childhood home of Duchess County, NY. Long held by Republicans, his win on the Democratic ticket represented a significant victory. In 1912 he won again, but was resigned in 1913 when newly elected President Woodrow Wilson appointed him Assistant Secretary of the Navy This became an increasingly important position as the U.S. prepared to enter WWI.

Like his cousin Theodore, Franklin aspired to rise in the political world. In 1920, he ran for vice president on the unsuccessful Democrat ticket of James Cox. The loss prompted FDR to reenter the business world, and shortly thereafter, in the summer of 1921, while vacationing with his family, Franklin started feeling weak and sickly. He was soon diagnosed with Polio. Like Theodore, he kept his charisma and humor in the face of adversity and made the decision to reenter politics by running for Governor of New York in 1928. Although he was unsure of his body's strength, he defied all physical odds and won the gubernatorial election in 1928 and again in 1930.

By 1932 a second Roosevelt had gained the White House. FDR went on to win again in 1936, 1940, and 1944. His election to his fourth presidential term led to the passing of the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which imposed a two-term limit.

Mounting: The kerchief has been hand-stitched to a background of 100% cotton twill, black in color. The cotton was 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 placed in a black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed Italian molding. Spacers keep the textile away from the glass, which is U.V. protective.

Condition: If the portrait was actually black, it has faded to a shade like sepia. Some FDR textiles have portraits in this color, and this is the only example I have seen in person, so it's difficult to know if this is original or not. The condition is otherwise mint.
Collector Level: Intermediate-Level Collectors and Special Gifts
Flag Type:
Star Count:
Earliest Date of Origin: 1932
Latest Date of Origin: 1932
State/Affiliation: New York
War Association:
Price: SOLD
 

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