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  1860 JOHN BELL CAMPAIGN FLAG, RECYCLED BY LINCOLN FOR HIS CAMPAIGN IN 1860

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): Approx. 48" in length, contact me for specifics
Flag Size (H x L): Approx. 38" in length, contact me for specifics
Description....:
13 STARS WITH A HALOED CENTER STAR & "UNION AND THE CONSTITUTION" SLOGAN, AN 1860 JOHN BELL PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN FLAG, RECYCLED IN 1864 FOR THE SECOND CAMPAIGN OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN:

This beautiful John Bell campaign flag, printed on fine, glazed cotton, is the only example known to have survived in this style. Bell ran for president against Abraham Lincoln in 1860, on an independent ticket, for the Constitution Party, which Bell founded and led. He was one of three men to run against Lincoln, who was the first Republican to be elected to our nation's highest office. The other two men were Northern Democrat, Stephen Douglas and Southern Democrat, John Breckinridge.

Lincoln was evidently conscious of wartime shortages, because when he ran for reelection in 1864, he recycled some of Bell's campaign flags. In this particular example, Bell's name and that of his running mate were cut from the flag and lengths of plain white muslin were sewn in their stead. Another flag exists where Lincoln's name was printed in blue ink on paper and sewn over top of Bell's. Lincoln seems to have liked Bell's campaign slogan, "For Union and the Constitution", because in both of the above cases, his slogan was left intact.

This particular Bell / Lincoln example has 13 stars, in three different sizes, arranged in a beautiful form of the medallion configuration. Note the large, haloed center star, which adds a great deal of visual impact. Also interesting is the text, itself, which is unusually whimsical. And a third extraordinary feature is the flag's size. At thirty-eight inches in length, it is among the largest of all known political campaign parade flags with overprinted text or images. Additionally, this flag is a mate to two other known flags that survive from the 1860 campaign. One of these two is a Stephen Douglas example. Another, made for Lincoln & Hamlin, with Lincoln's portrait in the center of the star field, holds the current world record price at auction for a printed parade flag.

The flag's construction is somewhat unusual because the fabric is a bit finer than what is found on other parade flags of the period. More white fabric was left along the hoist, which was rolled over so that a length of twisted cotton rope could be sewn inside it.

The flag is a not only one of the most beautiful of the period, but also survives as an important documentation of what was going on during the Civil War in Lincoln's campaign. The Union and The Constitution slogan was certainly fitting to Lincoln's objective for the nation, but it would be hard to imagine a politician of today adopting the exact slogan of a previous adversary. It is also interesting to note that Lincoln didn't only recycle Bell's flags. A Breckinridge flag also exists with Lincoln & Johnson's names sewn over top on printed muslin. Having grown up poor in rural Illinois, it is easy to see why one of our most salt-of-the-earth presidents would have sought to be diligent in his use of cloth at any time, especially while the nation was at war.

Mounting: The flag has been hand-sewn to 100% cotton, black in color, which has been washed to reduce excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the was to help 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. Spacers keep the textile away from the glass, which is u.v. protective.

Condition: There is minor staining and foxing. A moderate section of the top, fly-end corner of the flag was missing. This encompassed a portion of the top red and white stripes, including the extreme right tip of the letter "i" and the top of the letters "o" and "n", at the end of the word "Constitution". Nineteenth century parade flag fabric was used to mask the loss and the top of the letters was professionally restored. The outcome was exceptionally good and the restoration is not readily noticable, even at close quarters. The extreme rarity of the flag, especially as the only surviving example, warrants practically 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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