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  EXTREMELY RARE, 36 STAR, OVERPRINTED PARADE FLAG, MADE FOR THE 1872 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF ULYSSES S. GRANT & HENRY WILSON, ON ITS ORIGINAL, CARVED WOODEN STAFF

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): 12.75" x 15"
Flag Size (H x L): 5" x 7.5" on 10.25" staff
Description....:
EXTREMELY RARE, 36 STAR, OVERPRINTED PARADE FLAG, MADE FOR THE 1872 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF ULYSSES S. GRANT & HENRY WILSON, ON ITS ORIGINAL, CARVED WOODEN STAFF:

36 star parade flag, printed on coarse, glazed cotton, used in the 1872 presidential campaign of Ulysses S. Grant & Henry Wilson. While eight different varieties of Grant & Colfax (1868) parade flags are pictured in Threads of History: Americana Recorded on Cloth, 1775 to the Present, by Herbert Ridgeway Collins (1979, Smithsonian Press), and many more styles of 1868 Grant flags are known, only two 1872 varieties are recorded and this example is not among them. The disparity between the number of flags made for the 1868 campaign vs. the 1872 campaign is actually much greater than this eight to two ratio might suggest. Grant's huge popularity, even after an un-illustrious first term, allowed him to win easily as an incumbent in the second race, defeating Horace Greeley in the popular vote by 55.6% to 43.8%. Very little flag-making took place for this campaign on either side of the ballot, from which there are also no known kerchiefs. Surviving flags are extremely rare and this is one of the most sought-after elections in political flag collecting. I'd estimate the present number of known Grant & Wilson examples at fewer than ten.

This was also one of the more interesting races, because Greeley, a Pennsylvania Quaker, actually died on November 29, 1872, after the popular vote had taken place, but before the electoral vote could be cast. As a result, electors previously committed to the deceased Greeley voted for four different candidates for president, and eight different candidates for vice president. Greeley himself received three posthumous electoral votes, which were afterwards disallowed by Congress.

This particular 36 star flag has stars that are arranged in justified rows, but the printing is very irregular, resulting in stars of many different shapes and sizes, and the stars point in various directions on their vertical axis. The black inked overprint in an interesting and attractive, Civil War - centennial era type set. Perhaps one of the nicest features is the original, crude, carved wooden staff. The culmination of these characteristics adds great visual qualities to the flag's overall presentation.

The 36th state, Nevada, gained statehood during the civil war in 1864. Makers of parade flags would have added a star to their flags at this time, but the 36 star flag did not become official until July 4th, 1865, after the war's end. It was replaced by the 37 star flag in 1867. Note that 36 is one star short of the official star count in 1872. This is sometimes the case with political campaign flags, which often have a number of stars that is one or more behind what was official in the election year. Sometimes campaigning may have started before the election year, though this was not the case here. At other times the star count probably wasn't that important to the person ordering these small, printed flags. The purchaser might have frequently been the campaign manager, but may sometimes have been a private individual who supported the candidate politically and wanted to make a classy display at his/her home or business, or along the campaign route.

Biographical Information on Grant & Wilson:

President and General Ulysses S. Grant was born in Ohio in 1822, the son of a tanner. He was shy and quiet as a youth, and most who knew him then would never have expected forthcoming greatness. Like Robert E. Lee, his eventual counterpart, Grant was a West Point graduate and fought in the Mexican War. Unlike that of Lee, however, Grant's early military career was far from illustrious. Forced to leave the Army for insubordination, as a civilian he went through six different jobs in just six years. When war broke out in 1861, he was working for his father's leather shop in Illinois. Trained officers were scarce, so he soon returned to the Army and was placed in charge of an unruly group of Illinois volunteers that no one else would have. Accounts say that he drilled them nearly to their death, before leading minor, successful campaigns that turned heads and won him a promotion to Brigadier General. Various incidents and problems with alcohol caused many to plead for his dismissal, but Lincoln made the suggestion that "a case of whatever Grant was drinking" be sent to every Union General. "I can not spare this man", touted Lincoln, "...he fights." In March of 1864, Grant's continued determination caused Lincoln to place him in charge of the entire Union Army. In April of 1865, he cornered the main part of the Confederate Army near Richmond, Virginia, an act that caused the surrender of General Lee and ended the war.

Following the failures of incumbent President, Andrew Johnson, Grant's hero status won him the 1868 Republican nomination. He was elected, and although many shortcomings would cause Grant's presidency to be widely criticized, he was known to be terminally honest, exceptionally loyal to his friends and staff (sometimes to a fault), and he was re-elected in 1872. While in office, he fought for equal voting rights for people of all races and colors, pushing the 15th amendment to its 1870 ratification. Grant strove to maintain order in the south with brute force, using the military to protect African Americans and combat southern extremists and hate groups, such as the Klu Klux Klan, which had been established in 1866 and was experiencing rapid growth. Grant died in 1885 and interment took place in New York City (Grant's Tomb).

Henry Wilson, a leading senator from Massachusetts, replaced Schuyler Colfax as nominee for vice president in 1872, following allegations of corruption against Colfax in a business scandal. Born Jeremiah Jones Colbath in 1812 in Farmington, New Hampshire, one of twelve siblings, he was given up for adoption because his impoverished family could not support him. He legally changed his name to that of his adopted father and took the first name of Henry. Wilson moved to Massachusetts in 1833 and became a shoemaker. He was well educated, attending several academies, and taught public school in the town of Natick. Wilson joined the state legislature in 1841 and served until 1852. For four years of this time he owned and edited a paper called the Boston Republican. He was elected by Democrats and Free-Soilers to the United States Senate in 1855, before joining the Republican Party and serving three more terms. Like many politicians following the Civil War, Wilson took his turn with the military. As senator, Wilson served as Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, and during the Civil War, he took a more hands-on role by raising and commanding the 22nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Wilson became paralyzed in 1873 and died in the United States Capitol Building in November of 1875, before his term had ended.

Mounting: The painted and gilded, ripple profile molding dates to the period between 1830 and 1860. The flag has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton, black in color, which was washed to reduce 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. Spacers keep the textile away from the glazing, which is U.V. protective glass.

Condition: There is moderate foxing and staining throughout, accompanied by moderate fading of the blue and red pigment. There is a vertical split at the top of the flag, between the canton and the stripes, and a tiny hole after "Wilson" in the 4th white stripe. There is moderate breakdown in the fabric where the flag meets the staff. The flag presents in a very attractive manner that shows its age and the great rarity of the textile well-warrants its condition.
Collector Level: Flags for the truest Patriots. My best offerings
Flag Type: Parade flag
Star Count: 36
Earliest Date of Origin: 1872
Latest Date of Origin: 1872
State/Affiliation: Nevada
War Association: 1861-1865 Civil War
Price: SOLD
 

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