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Description: |
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| 34 star American national parade flag, printed on cotton, made for the 1864 campaign of Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. Unlike some advertising flags, which were overprinted with the names of candidates in black ink, the lettering on this flag was printed in blue. The stars are arranged in a circular medallion that consists of a large center star, surrounded by two consecutive wreaths of stars, with a flanking star in each corner of the blue canton.
While all Lincoln-related parade flags are highly sought after, and are collectively the most valuable of all printed flags known to exist, those made for the 1864 campaign of Lincoln & Johnson are of particular interest. There are two primary reasons why. For one, flags from the second election are more scarce. Although Lincoln felt unlikely to be re-elected in the early part of 1864, as the year proceeded there were significant Union victories and the success of the incumbent president was solidified. In addition, less time and resources were available during wartime to focus on campaign accessories. In fact, it is interesting to note that of those Lincoln-Johnson flags that do exist, some were actually recycled from the 1860 campaigns of his opponents by way of applying Lincoln�s name over top on a length of cloth or paper.
The other reason Lincoln & Johnson flags are more interesting is because Johnson became president following Lincoln's assassination. Johnson saw the nation through the beginning of Reconstruction and played a more significant role in American history than Hannibal Hamlin. Lincoln & Johnson flags therefore have the advantage of featuring the names of two American presidents instead of one. So assuming all other factors are equal (graphics, text, size, etc.), the presence of the Johnson name is superior to Hamlin.
Kansas was admitted into the Union as the 34th state on January 29th, 1861, about 2 � months before the Confederate assault on Fort Sumter that marked the beginning of the Civil War. The 34th star was officially added on July 4th of that year, but most flag makers would have added a 34th star with the addition of Kansas in January. The star count remained official until July 4th, 1863, and 34 star flags would have been produced until the addition of West Virginia in June of that year.
Brief Biography of Andrew Johnson:
Andrew Johnson was born in North Carolina in 1808. He led an impoverished childhood and would become one of only eight presidents who never attended college (the others being Washington, Jackson, Van Buren, Taylor, Fillmore, Lincoln, Cleveland, and Truman). Johnson, in fact, was never formally educated and taught himself to read. He was an extremely charismatic speaker, however, and his political aspirations eventually led him all the way to the United States House of Representatives, followed by the Senate.
Having moved to Tennessee, Johnson played the fine line between the North and the South. As a result, he was eventually disliked on both sides of the Mason-Dixon. He often supported slavery, at least in his actions if not his words, yet was the only Senator to not denounce his seat after the secession. This earned him the title of �traitor� in the South and �hero� in the North, at least for a time. Lincoln chose him as a running mate to boost support among Southern sympathizers, as well as to convey his commitment to unification.
After Lincoln�s 1865 assassination, Johnson ascended to the presidency. Radical Republicans hated him due to political clashes regarding reconstruction. Many viewed Johnson�s actions as obstructive and endeavored to undue him, which led to impeachment. The charges were based on questionable technicalities, however, and fueled by political scheming. Johnson was acquitted at trial in 1868 and was not re-nominated.
Mounting: The ripple-profile frame has a gilded liner and dates to the period between 1830 and 1850. The flag has been hand-stitched to 100% cotton, black in color, which was washed to reduce excess dye. An acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye, which was heat-treated for the same purpose. The glazing is U.V. protective acrylic. |
| Inventory Number: |
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Dealer |
Jeff R. Bridgman American Antiques, llc |
| Contact |
Jeff Bridgman |
Phone: (717) 502-1281 |
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| Period: |
19th Century (1801-1900) |
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| Date: |
1864 |
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| Origin: |
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| Condition: |
There is minor foxing and staining throughout, accompanied by minor fading. There are minor losses at the hoist end, where the flag was affixed to its original wooden staff. The flag presents beautifully. Many of my clients prefer early flags to show their age and history of use. Further, the great importance of this flag and its desirability warrant almost any condition. |
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| Measurements: |
Frame: Approx: 17" x 21" Flag: 7.5" x 11.5" |
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| Inventory |
Other Inventory by this Dealer |
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| Web-site: |
http://www.jeffbridgman.com |
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| Price: |
SOLD |
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| E-mail: |
Inquire
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