| SUFFRAGETTE RIBBON WITH AN ALLEGORICAL FIGURE STANDING UPON THE U.S. CONSTITUTION BEFORE A LION & LAMB, WITH A BROKEN SWORD, AN AMERICAN FLAG, AND A HOST OF GREAT SLOGANS, AMONG THE EARLIEST KNOWN AMERICAN SUFFRAGE TEXTILES, circa 1880-1890 |
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| Web ID: | ws-145 |
| Available: | In Stock |
| Frame Size (H x L): | 10.5" x 7" |
| Flag Size (H x L): | 6" x 2.75" |
| Description: | |
| Printed in blue on golden yellow satin, this terrific, early, American Suffrage movement ribbon bears both great graphics and slogans. An allegorical figure that blends both Lady Liberty and Lady Justice stands upon a book entitled “U.S. Constitution,” with a sub or volume title that reads: “Equality of Sex.” In one hand she holds a staff with a dove-shaped finial, to which is affixed a version of the Stars & Stripes with a single star in the canton and the letters “US” below. Text in the striped field reads: “We Learn” followed by “The Art of Peace.” In her other hand is a broken sword bearing the words “We” and “sever” on opposite ends. At her feet, the proverbial lion are lion and lamb lay down together. Wrapped about the figure is a billowing streamer with the slogan: “Everlasting Peace of States and Nations.” Arched above her head are the words “Love and Purity,” and above this, a device that consists of a 5-pointed star, with letters inside each arm to spell "white," symbolizing purity, and outside, between each arm, to spell "Peace". The entirety is encircled by the phrase: "Equality of Sex and Suffrage." One of the earliest events where printed Suffrage ribbons may have been present was the 1888 meeting of the International Council Of Women, assembled by the National Woman Suffrage Association, held from March 25th - April 1st of that year at Albaugh’s Opera House in Washington, DC. While the design of the ribbons is unknown, officers Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton are recorded as having worn a black and gold ribbon, while the badge committee wore pink and general delegates wore white. This is notable, not only because of the color distribution appears to be the same as the design in question here, but also because pink, while not entirely unknown, is an extremely uncommon color on surviving American Suffrage campaign ribbons. Another commonality worth noting exists in the use of the dove, which appears on another 19th century suffrage ribbon design, produced for the 1894 Suffrage campaign in Kansas and distributed by a journal called “The Farmer's Wife,” published in Topeka. The slogan on that variant also bore similarity: “Equal Suffrage—We Wage A Peaceful War.” An example of the ribbon that is the subject of this narrative, in golden yellow, is documented on p. 112 of "The Keynoter: Journal of the American Political Items Conservators," Summer/Fall/Winter 2008 (Women's Suffrage Special Triple Issue), Volume 2008, Number 2-4), p.96. This issue was entirely dedicated to Suffrage collecting and serves as the best pictorial reference in the hobby. Mounting: For 25 years we have maintained our own textile conservation department, led by a master’s degree level graduate from one of the nation’s top 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 1830 and 1850. The ribbon has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton twill, black in color, that was washed and treated for colorfastness. Spacers keep the textile away from the glazing, which is U.V. protective glass. Condition: There are no serious condition issues. |
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| Video: | |
| Collector Level: | Advanced Collectors and the Person with Everything |
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| Earliest Date of Origin: | 1880 |
| Latest Date of Origin: | 1895 |
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| Price: | Please call (717) 676-0545 or (717) 502-1281 |
| E-mail: | info@jeffbridgman.com |
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