27183

Pair of Benjamin Harrison Silk Ribbons

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:22.50 USD Estimated At:90.00 - 125.00 USD
Pair of Benjamin Harrison Silk Ribbons
"<B>Pair of Benjamin Harrison Silk Ribbons.</B></I> This lot features a pair of ribbons that were used during the Presidential campaign of 1888 to support Benjamin Harrison and Levi Morton. Harrison used his roots to gain support of the voters; his connection to William Henry Harrison. The son of Benjamin Harrison, one of the signatories to the Declaration of Independence, William Henry Harrison achieved notoriety in unfortunate, unforeseen circumstances. A mere month after his inauguration (as the oldest president to that time at age 68), Harrison was overcome by a bout of pneumonia, causing him to be the first American President to have died in office. The lower portion of the ribbon displays a portrait of Harrison and text below it proclaiming, ""Fort Meigs - Thames - and Hero of Tippecanoe"", three battlefields at which Harrison achieved military victories. At the bottom of the ribbon is a log cabin with a plow. Although born to wealthy plantation owners, Harrison targeted his campaign to the common man, exaggerating his war exploits (""Tippecanoe and Tyler too""), and promoting himself as a humble frontiersman in the style of Andrew Jackson (""Log Cabins and Hard Cider""). Benjamin Harrison used this technique as well in 1888. <r The larger of the two ribbons measures 3"" x 9.5"" and is in excellent condition. The ribbon is light in color so there is some soiling present as well as some light fraying of the edges. The smaller ribbon measures 4"" x 4.75"" and is also in excellent condition. There is no pin present on this ribbon and the edges have begun to fray. However, the color and crispness of the graphic is still pristine. "