25803

Simply the Finest 1864 Lincoln and Johnson Campai

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:15,000.00 USD Estimated At:12,000.00 - 18,000.00 USD
Simply the Finest 1864 Lincoln and Johnson Campai
<B>Simply the Finest 1864 Lincoln and Johnson Campaign Flag Banner We Have Ever Handled</B></I> This tremendous flag has it all: it is for <I>Lincoln,</B></I> and the tougher of his two elections at that. It combines condition, size, great slogan and visual impact. Like most types of campaign items, 1864 Lincoln flags are much scarcer than 1860 Lincoln-Hamlin varieties. (We have always suspected that this was a result of wartime austerity, which restricted funds and manufacturing capability for such dispensable baubles as campaign novelties.) Indeed, this variety was made by recycling a left-over 1860 campaign flag issued for Bell and Everett! The slogan, "The Union and the Constitution," was widely used by both Bell's 1860 and Lincoln's 1864 campaigns. It was a small matter to excise the names of the 1860 candidates and cover that space with carefully sewn-on strips bearing Lincoln and Johnson's! This is definitely a manufactured, rather than home-made, modification: the names on the strips are machine-printed, and most tellingly at least two other examples are known, one held by the family of a deceased early APIC president, and the other firmly ensconced in what is perhaps the finest private collection of campaign flags. We have seen both of those examples "in person," and the present copy is in markedly better condition than either. Indeed the condition is quite exceptional for a flag of this era, with good, strong color. Minimal light overall surface soiling does not detract, and some trivial roughness on the right edge is noted purely for accuracy. At 27" x 16", it is one of the largest known Lincoln flag banners as well. Very expensive archival custom framing shows this outstanding flag to best advantage for display. 37" x 27.5" as framed. Lot:258