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  PREVIOUSLY UNDOCUMENTED, TEDDY ROOSEVELT PORTRAIT BANNER WITH LARGE EAGLE & "WELCOME OUR PRESIDENT" TEXT, ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE, EXISTING, PRINTED, T.R. TEXTILES

Available: Sold
Frame Size (H x L): Approx. 48" x 30"
Flag Size (H x L): Approx. 38" x 20"
Description....:
PREVIOUSLY UNDOCUMENTED, TEDDY ROOSEVELT PORTRAIT BANNER WITH LARGE EAGLE & "WELCOME OUR PRESIDENT" TEXT, ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE, EXISTING, PRINTED, T.R. TEXTILES:

Vertical format, "Welcome Our President" banner with portrait image of Theodore Roosevelt in a rectangular medallion over red and white stripes, capped by a large patriotic eagle and 13 stars on a blue ground. Printed on coarse, glazed cotton, this presidential textile is important for several reasons. First among them is that it is one of the most striking parade banners of its kind. Graphically balanced and colorful, it has a strikingly handsome image of one of our nation's most beloved leaders. Of no smaller importance is its rarity, as I am aware of the existence of only three such banners, of which this is one. It is so scarce, in fact, that it is an undocumented in any text. Another peculiarity is that it is not necessarily a campaign piece. While it was most likely used by Roosevelt supporters during the 1904 incumbent campaign, it could have been employed at any time between the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901 and the end of Roosevelt's term in 1909. More common, though certainly no less desired, are textiles that were specifically made for campaign use with text that would more likely say "Roosevelt for President".

A very similar banner is held in the collection of the Smithsonian and documented as item 950 on page 376 of "Threads of History: Americana Recorded on Cloth, 1775 to the Present" by Herbert Ridgeway Collins (Collins served as curator of Political History at the Smithsonian and his book is considered the Bible of political textiles). On this example, the eagle is the same but no text overlaps it. The only text is the word "Welcome", which appears at the bottom under a similar portrait of T.R., set within an oval wreath of leaves and flowers. The portrait is slightly smaller, faces slightly to the right, and isn't quite as profound. This was probably made in 1912 for Roosevelt's Progressive Party (Bull Moose) campaign. One could expect that it might just as easily date earlier, while Roosevelt was in office, but for the existence of a companion banner that substitutes a portrait of President William Howard Taft. Taft and Roosevelt did not run against each-other in 1908, but they did in 1912, and the two textiles are identical but for the portrait in the center (and Taft's name, which appears directly underneath).

One should note how these banners are modifications of the Stars & Stripes, instead of actual flags. The year 1905 marked an important point in the use of the American flag for political campaigning. The flag ethics that exist today did not exist for most of the 19th century. Sometime around 1890, written flag ethics began to emerge that soon had great effect on the use of the Stars & Stripes for the purpose of advertising. The practice was widely employed and accepted in the 19th century, when the names and faces of the candidates were printed directly on the stripes, or within the canton (the blue union). During the last decade of the 19th century, however, booklets began to appear, issued mostly by insurance companies and war veteran's fraternal groups, which laid down some of the rules that were thought to be prudent regarding use and display of the Stars & Stripes. Changing public opinion influenced Congress to propose a ban on what they felt was misuse. Brought to a vote in 1892 and 1895, legislation was finally passed in 1905.

Presidential candidates made their decision a bit earlier, as presidential campaign items seldom ever include American national flags with overprinted text or portraits after the year 1900. Even sewn banners disappeared that attached the candidates' names along the bottom or the fly end of the stripes. "Threads of History" pictures only three relevant flags from the 1900 campaign of McKinley and Roosevelt. In two of these, the portraits of the candidates appear to the left along a length of fabric at the hoist, with the Stars and stripes further out, to the right. This was a new design to accommodate changing opinion and it is not seen in flags made before that year. The other example pictured is a standard flag with overprinted text in the stripes. A small handful of other McKinley and Roosevelt "verbiage" flags are known to exist, which are not pictured, but almost no Stars & Stripes campaign flags are known after that election.

Patriotic banners like this Roosevelt example, made up of various combinations of stars, stripes, eagles, shields, etc, and which were not the actual American national flag, were still perfectly acceptable. Mounting: The flag has been hand-stitched to a background of 100% cotton twill, black in color. The background fabric has been washed to reduce excess dye. An acid-free gent was added to the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose. The flag was then placed in a black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed Italian molding. The front is u.v. protective plexiglas.

Condition: The banner was nearly mint, save for the bottom eight inches. Here the white stripes were soiled and had experienced fabric rot. The red stripes and the blue lettering were intact, however, preserved by the dye, which significantly aids in the stability of coarse cotton parade flag fabric. The damaged areas were carefully trimmed away and period white fabric with the same exact weave was placed behind the loss. Very light consolidation was then pursued in the associated blue lettering. The end result is a complete banner with no visible loss or restoration, even close up. The great rarity of the textile warrants practically any condition, and the presentation is outstanding.
Collector Level: Flags for the truest Patriots. My best offerings
Flag Type: Parade flag
Star Count:
Earliest Date of Origin: 1901
Latest Date of Origin: 1904
State/Affiliation:
War Association:
Price: SOLD
 

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