POLITICALS

PART I (Lots 452-543)

CLICK HERE FOR PART II (Lots 544-673)

The Ultimate! One of the three finest Lincoln portrait flags extant.

452. The best Lincoln campaign item we have been privileged to handle - a large Lincoln portrait campaign flag. Unlisted and unpublished, this 15 x 25" textile has a sober and "backwoodsy" portrait of Lincoln within a canton of thirteen stars. Archivally framed to 29 x 18" overall. Large block lettering LINCOLN AND HAMLIN. in black on the middle white stripes. Some scattered light stains and soiling, especially along the right side. Colors are strong and unfaded. A blockbuster centerpiece for any Lincoln collection! Recently found hidden behind a wall in a mid-western house undergoing renovation!
(Est. $50,000-60,000 )
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453. As we are quite fond of pointing out, campaign material from 1864 is difficult to obtain. This is particularly so with anything large and colorful - such as this magnificent textile from that monumental election. Let us remind you: the War was raging hot in 1864. Grant is in constant skirmishes with Lee's forces in the Virginia Wilderness. Not until March does the President appoint Ulysses as Commander-in-Chief of the armies and not until September, when Sherman takes Atlanta, does the tide seem to turn. In fact, up to this point, Lincoln was quite certain he would lose the election. He made each of his Cabinet Members sign a blind oath to support the new administration. Whether it was wartime deprivations or the unseemliness of an all-out campaign while boys were dying on the battlefield, the 1864 election produced very little memorabilia - save for small items of ephemera. The number of extant campaign flags from 1864 is nominal... just a fraction of those seen from 1860. (Unlike a spurious "Lincoln and Johnson" name flag to recently hit the market, this is the real McCoy!) Andrew Johnson, a War Democrat from Tennessee, was the only Southern senator from a seceding state to remain loyal to the Union. Lincoln, in an effort to secure that state early in the war, appointed Johnson military governor. Johnson was likewise chosen to be his 1864 running-mate to help "shore up" the Union ticket. As it turned out, Lincoln won with 91% of the electoral vote. (The popular vote, however, was relatively close with Lincoln and Johnson receiving 2.2 million to 1.8 million for the McClellan ticket.) Measuring 33 x 23", beautiful archival framing to measure 36 x 26" overall, this relic retains rich, vibrant colors. (A similar example in slightly better condition sold in the Heritage auction last June for $30,000.) The age darkening and fabric loss along the right margin adds to the feel of this relic - an evocative item that displays quite well given the tremendous size. A rarity of significance.
(Est. $12,000-18,000 )
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An 1840 presidential poll-book: Lincoln as electoral candidate with votes by many close New Salem associates. An important document.
454. Manuscript pollbook recording the votes cast at the presidential election in "Petersburg precinct" of Menard County, Ill., 2 November 1840. Comprised of three double-folio sheets, folded vertically to make 12 folio tallysheet pages, each of which has the names of the presidential electoral candidates penned vertically in columns at the top of the page. Voters' names are written along the left side of each sheet, with slashmarks in the appropriate columns indicating their choices. The "Van Buren electors"include later Union General John McClernand while the "Harrison electors" are Abraham Lincoln, Buckner S. Morris, Sam Marshall, E.B. Webb and Cyrus Walker (the latter four all close associates of Lincoln in the political, legal, and/or legislative arenas). Some 150 votes are recorded -- not all of the pages needed to be used -- with 86 going to Van Buren's electors and 64 to Lincoln and his colleagues, an outcome which reflected the statewide trend. Van Buren swept Illinois, as did every Democratic presidential candidate until Lincoln's own Republican candidacy in 1860.
This rare pollbook reflects the very first time that Lincoln ever contended for an office of national significance -- he would run for presidential elector several more times, lastly in 1856 -- but it is even more remarkable and historically significant because it records the votes of some of his most important friends and neighbors from New Salem, the frontier community where he had come to maturity. Petersburg, which Lincoln helped to survey and which became the seat of newly-created Menard County in 1839, superseded and effectively absorbed old New Salem. By 1840 New Salem had ceased to exist; a great many of its residents moved to Petersburg, some literally taking their cabins and business buildings with them. Lincoln continued to attend to lawsuits for his old neighbors at the Petersburg court house until his Presidency, and they always remained a prized link in his chain of political contacts; as he once wrote, "my old friends of Menard who have known me longest and best, stick to me." Among those voting for Lincoln are: Pleasant Armstrong (a member of Lincoln's Black Hawk War company; in 1848 was co-purchaser of the acreage at Huron, Ill. owned by Lincoln); Jesse Gum (for whom Lincoln did some of his earliest surveying work, in 1834); John A. "Jack" Kelso (famed as New Salem's ne'er-do-well "village philosopher" who strengthened, if he did not inspire, Lincoln's love for Robert Burns and Shakespeare; Lincoln boarded with him on occasion; Kelso once bested the Trent brothers in a lawsuit over a hog, which supposedly was Lincoln's first "court appearance" for a "client" -- although not yet a licensed attorney, he argued for the Trents); Joshua Miller (New Salem blacksmith and wheelwright; brother-in-law of Jack Kelso); James Short (famed for buying and returning to Lincoln his surveying equipment when it was seized to satisfy a court judgment which arose from his ill-fated storekeeping venture; said to have hosted Lincoln on his visits to Ann Rutledge, whose family had moved into Short's neighborhood; when President, Lincoln gave the impoverished Short an appointment as an Indian agent in California); Bowling Green (local justice of the peace who encouraged Lincoln's interest in the law and loaned him books); James M. Rutledge (apparently J. McGrady Rutledge, a cousin of Ann, who as a boy helped construct New Salem's dam and Rutledge tavern); David Rutledge (brother of Ann; a member of Lincoln's Black Hawk War company; first lawyer in Menard County, occasionally involved in cases with Lincoln; once co-defendant with him over a land conveyance Rutledge had made while a minor and lacking clear title, Lincoln being surety on the transaction; name given in this document and in many published sources as David "M." although he himself seems to have always written it David "H."); Matthew S. Marsh (author of a series of letters that lend very rare, and perhaps the best, contemporary color to our knowledge of New Salem; he called Lincoln a "very clever fellow", careless about leaving his post office open and unattended, but "accommodating", even to the point that he illegally free-franked one of Marsh's letters) ; Martin Waddell (New Salem hatter involved with numerous Lincoln petitions); William McNeely (New Salem bricklayer and plasterer; Lincoln did surveys for him in 1835 and attended to lawsuits for him as late as 1858, including one for McNeely's failure to perform his duty as a Menard supervisor); and Bennett Abell (loaned Lincoln books in New Salem; Mrs. Abell, a sister of Mary Owens, was instrumental in her ill-fated "love affair" with Lincoln). Among those voting against Lincoln are: Alex Ferguson (New Salem shoemaker who in 1833 co-signed Lincoln's bond to serve as postmaster of the town); Peter Elmore (who witnessed a deed along with Lincoln in September 1832); Thomas Watkins (stock raiser at Clary's Grove, said to have sold Lincoln the horse he rode while a surveyor); Jacob Garber (for whose son Lincoln, while a Congressman in 1848, secured a West Point cadetship); and Royal Clary (a member of Lincoln's Black Hawk company). Many other listed voters, who await certain identification, bear well-known New Salem/Menard County names such Nance, Cogdal, Beekman, Goldsby, Potter, Summers. Spears, Elmore, Purviance, and Hoheimer. Several unidentified Clarys (including John Clary Jr.) are shown among the anti-Lincoln voters; they belonged to the clan which founded "Clary's Grove", home of the rowdies who plagued early New Salem and whose champion, Jack Armstrong, proved Lincoln's mettle in a legendary wrestling match. The pollbook is personally signed as justice of the peace by A.D. Wright, Petersburg merchant, judge, and Mexican War captain. An ardent admirer of Stephen Douglas, Wright supposedly gave the middle name "Douglas" to all of his children, including author Carrie Douglass Wright. (Est. $14,000-16,000 )
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A rare relic from "Abram" Lincoln's first attempt at national office!
455. Three leaves comprising a Morgan County, IL, poll book from the national election of 1840: "Poll Book for Meredosia Precinct, Nov. 1840." (Morgan County is Southwest of Springfield.) Prior to his election as President in 1860, Lincoln was a determined party functionary, actively campaigning for Whig Presidential candidates in every general election from 1840 to 1856. Not only did he barnstorm the country giving speeches, but he was a candidate for Presidential Elector on numerous occasions - the very first being in 1840. In that campaign, he also had occasion to debate Stephen Douglas for the first time. Lincoln supported William Henry Harrison, Douglas was an advocate for the incumbent, Martin Van Buren. These poll books had pre-printed pages with the names of Whig and Democratic Presidential Electors. The last column has the name of "Abram Lincoln". Under their names, election clerk has noted the choices of each voter. A tally of the votes received is written on the final page, on the bottom. Being a Democratic state, the Van Buren slate of electors received many more votes than the Whig slate. Accordingly, Lincoln failed in his attempt to be elected a Presidential Elector. Despite numerous attempts, this is one office that eluded Lincoln his entire career. Still, the experience gained in this and future national elections would prove invaluable in Lincoln's journey toward the White House and immortality. Single leaves from 1840 poll books seldom surface and when they do they command high prices. This is, to our knowledge, complete for this precinct. Housed in a magnificent custom, archival frame that beautifully displays all three leaves.
(Est. $2,000-3,000 )
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456. The machinery of the U.S. Government gurantees a
SINGLE soldier's vote! Partly printed "POLL-BOOK" (so titled in large letters on cover) used to record soldiers' absentee votes in the Presidential election of 8 November 1864, used at "Camp, Defenses of the James" (James River, Va.); 6 pages (3 leaves), oblong giant folio. One page bears the oaths of 5 election judges and clerks, who sign every sheet. The sole voter, A.P. Steckel, of Washington Twp., Lehigh Co., has cast his ballot for the Presidential electoral ticket headed by Morton McMichael. Steckel belonged to the 211th Pennsylvania, which took part in the final assault and fall of Petersburg and in the Appomattox Campaign that cornered Robert E. Lee and ended the Civil War (Apr. 3-9, 1865). Some small edge chips and starting folds, but good. (Est. $150-300 )
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457. One of the great rarities in political campaign torches...this one always considered having been developed for the early Lincoln Presidential rallies, circa 1860/64. Certainly among the most desired of all the political campaign torches. Handsome, large, all brass eagle (about 9 inches wide by 10 inches high overall). Made in two die stamped brass sections with large hollow center section and a small brass oil lamp inset at the top of each hollow wing with the wicks still intact. Very deep age patina to the brass and original untouched uncleaned condition and would rate as exc. +. Completely authentic with about 90% of its original gilt. Most handsome and exceedingly rare piece of Americana. These type items were meant to be carried on a long wooden pole affixed to a swivel top to keep them always upright. One side of the support bracket is loose, else quite nice. Very few have ever turned up and especially in this exceptional condition... last year's example sold for almost $9,000. (Est. $3,000-5,000 )
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458. A wood rifle-torch for parades, affixed with a provenance label bearing the words "'Wide Awake's Parade Torch, Mohawk, N.Y. 1861". Measuring 64" in length, the barrel has a small opening allowing the wire holding the oil reservoir to be easily removed from the rifle. Normal wear, aging. A fun display piece! (Est. $400-600 )
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459. The definitive study: Political Campaign Torches by Herbert R. Collins. (Smithsonian Press, Washington: 1964.) 44pp., profusely illustrated with examples of just about every known torch used in parades and rallies along with great illustrations of period advertising of same. Long out of print... a necessary addition to your reference shelf. (OPEN )
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460. A wonderful, metal ballot box (or, should we say "ballot barrel?"). 14.5 x 12 " with decorative red designs on top and at each end, remnants of white text on sides. This ballot box was manufactured by George Barnard & Co. of St. Louis, circa 1868 - just in time for supporting Grant's first campaign (political campaign, that is!). Normal wear. Would look great in your political display!
(Est. $400-600 )
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