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Rare Antique American Politcal Flag, 1840 Campaign of William Henry Harrison

About the Item

THE FIRST YEAR FOR POLITICAL CAMPAIGN PARADE FLAGS: A RARE EXAMPLE FROM THE 1840 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OF WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, WITH 13 STARS IN A 3rd MARYLAND PATTERN AND A FOLK PORTRAIT OF “OLD TIPPECANOE” IN MILITARY GARB: 13 star American national parade flag, printed on silk, made for the 1840 campaign of President William Henry Harrison. Note the open circular medallion in the center of the strip field, in which is set a great folk-style portrait of “Old Tippecanoe” in military uniform. Framing the medallion is a wreath of laurel leaves and within it, arched over the portrait, are the words: “Wm. H. Harrison”, under which are 13 more stars, split between 6 on the left and 7 on the right. Harrison’s honorary title, “Hero of Tippecanoe”, is printed in the 12th and 14th stripes. Harrison had a successful military career and is most famous for a battle with a feared American Indian chief, Tecumseh, on the banks of the Tippecanoe River. After this he gained the nickname “Old Tippicanoe”. Campaign slogans are present on approximately 10% of all known presidential campaign parade flags, and these 10% are among the most rare. In other words, slogans are not only rare on parade flags, but those styles that do have slogans are often one-of-a-kind or one of a scant few in that exact form. Note that the flag has 17 stripes. This is probably due to artist’s liberty as opposed to some hidden message. Several variations of this flag exist with different images in the central medallion. Among those documented there are at least 5 different stripe counts. An example of this particular variety is pictured in "Threads of History: Americana Recorded on Cloth, 1775 to the Present", by Herbert Ridgeway Collins (1979, Smithsonian Press), item 135, p. 102. The flag's 13 stars are configured in a circular version of what is known as the "3rd Maryland" pattern. This beautiful and desirable design consists of a wreath of 12 stars, with a large star in the very center. The star count pays homage to the original 13 colonies and the founding of our nation. All known varieties of Harrison flags have 13 stars except one, which has either 25 or 26 stars, depending on how they are counted. There are 2 stars in the center, one large, white star, with a smaller blue one inside it. The correct count of this flag is probably meant to be 26 stars, because 1840 fell squarely within the 26 star period (1837-1845). The earliest known parade flags date to this eight-year time frame. Those without political overprints have 26 stars, and may have been made in any one of those eight years. If all of these non-political 26 star flags were made after 1840, that would mean that the William Henry Harrison campaign flags are the earliest printed parade flags known to exist. Similar, square flags were made for both the 1840 and 1844 campaigns and the stripe count among known examples varies somewhat randomly from one example to the next. The square format may have served so that the flag could be just as easily flown on a staff or tied like a kerchief. In any event, many of the earliest examples bear this square profile, which also mimics the shape of ground force military colors. Brief Notes on William Henry Harrison and the 1840 Presidential Election: William Henry Harrison (b. Feb. 9th, 1773) was the son of wealthy plantation owner Benjamin Harrison V. His father was a delegate to the second Continental Congress, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Governor of Virginia. William was the last president to be born as a British subject. Following his military career he became secretary of the Northwest Territory, then governor of the subsequently divided Indiana Territory, then moved to Ohio where he served as a U.S. Congressman, State Senator, and U.S. Senator. Harrison became secretary of the Northwest Territory, then governor of the subsequently divided Indiana Territory. On campaign items, his home is often depicted as a log cabin. In reality, however, his 20-room, 13-fireplace, Indiana home, called Grouseland, was hardly a cabin in any sense and became a focal point of life in the expanding west. There he met with Indian tribes, managed the many affairs of his governorship, and invited townspeople to seek refuge during Indian attacks. He afterwards moved to Ohio and would serve that state in the U.S. Senate. Harrison used the log cabin image and his “hard cider” campaign to portray himself as a commoner. Martin Van Buren, Harrison’s Democrat opponent, was a New Yorker and the incumbent president. Van Buren's aristocratic air, combined with economic depression that included the devastating collapse of the Second National Bank of the United States, subsequently lost him the 1840 election. But things would not go well for the newly elected president. Harrison, at the age of 68, was a long-winded speaker. He went to his inauguration without a topcoat and droned on for an hour and forty-five minutes in a snowstorm, before greeting guests and remaining outdoors for a prolonged period. He subsequently caught pneumonia and died just 32 days after taking office. Vice President, John Tyler, was chosen for the ticket because he was a Southerner and thus balanced the interests of slave owners. Tyler finished out his 4-year term but was generally unsuccessful in the White House, unpopular, and did not seek reelection. Mounting: This is a sandwich mount between 100% cotton and U.V. protective acrylic. The black background fabric was washed to reduce excess dye. And acid-free agent was added to the wash to further set the dye and the fabric was heat-treated for the same purpose. The mount was placed in a black-painted, hand-gilded and distressed Italian molding. Condition: There is are minor to moderate tears and fabric loss. Fabrics of similar coloration were placed between the flag and background, both for masking purposes and as an added barrier. There is significant fading of the red, brown and black pigments throughout. Due to the great rarity of all flags from this period and the desirability of campaign flags, and their collective importance as the earliest known political parade flags, any state of preservation is acceptable. Frame Size (H x L): 39.25" x 38.25" Flag Size (H x L): 27" x 26"

Dimensions:
Height: 39.25 in (99.7 cm)Width: 38.25 in (97.16 cm)
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1840
Condition:
See Item Description.
Seller Location:
York County, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: 13j-12091stDibs: LU8497769215

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