Description:

William Henry Harrison
various, ca. 1840-1843
(9) Pcs, William H. Harrison Campaign Stationery, Majority Featuring Log Cabin & Hard Cider Imagery
Archive

A collection of nine autograph letters signed and printed circulars with campaign stationery featuring 9th U.S. President William Henry Harrison (1773-1841), ca. July 1840 - April 1843. The correspondence is from various places in Massachusetts and New York including Boston, Brookline, New Bedford, and Taunton, as well as New York City, Seneca Falls, and White Plains. Both bifold and single sheets, some with integral address leaves and one with its own transmittal wrapper. With miscellaneous philatelic markings and hand-stamps. Expected wear including flattened folds, isolated loss corresponding to wax seals, scattered stains and repairs to fold breaks. Please refer to catalog photos for additional information related to condition. Else near fine. The average size is 7.5" x 9.75."

Whig Party presidential candidate William Henry Harrison defeated his Democratic opponent Martin Van Buren in the 1840 presidential election, after ballots were received between October 30th and December 2nd. Campaign stationery like these examples were circulated by the politically-minded in advance of the 1840 presidential election, and indeed, for two full years after Harrison's death from pneumonia in early April 1841.

Each example of stationery letterhead depicts a bust portrait of Harrison; 8 of 9 examples show him wearing a dress coat, or civilian clothes, and 1 of 9 examples show him in uniform. Of the 7 examples of log cabin imagery found in this group, 6 show a trio of figures rolling out a barrel of hard cider from a log cabin, and 1 shows a farmer and ox in front of a log cabin. The campaign stationery capitalized on the perception that Harrison was a man of humble origins, willing to share a glass with the American people; in fact, he was born on a wealthy Virginia plantation. Stationery maker's names include: Allen & Co., 72 State Street; Dorr, Howland & Co., Worcester; Narine & Co., 11 Wall St. Cor. of Broad, New York; and Peter C. Jones, 110 State St., Boston.

A list of the items is organized chronologically below. Interesting quotes are highlighted also.

1. 4pp ALS with integral address leaf, July 7, [1840], [New Bedford, Massachusetts.] From C. Pope and addressed to P. Chase, discussing marine and whaling news - "700 bbl. sperm" - as well as local events.

2. 1p printed circular with integral address leaf, July 15, 1840, Boston, Massachusetts. Addressed to Thomas P. Beal, and announcing the date of a general Convention of the Whigs of Massachusetts.

3. 2pp ALS with integral address leaf, August 17, 1840, Taunton, Massachusetts. From S.O. Dunchar (?) addressed to Thomas P. Beal, about a future meeting to discuss "the success of the Whig cause in this county and district."

4. 1p ALS with integral address leaf, September 17, 1840, White Plains, New York. From leading citizens of Westchester County including James A. Hamilton, third son of Alexander Hamilton, to Governor Call, announcing an upcoming meeting of "the Democratic Whigs and the original Jackson men."

5. 3pp ALS with integral address leaf, November 10, 1840, Seneca Falls, New York. From an unknown correspondent addressed to Mrs. Prudence B. Green, in part: "The great absorbing business here, and indeed I think every where [sic] throughout the union is who shall be elected to the office of President; we read and hear of the great bustle of preparation on the one side log cabin meetings and on the other mass meetings… and the whigs were in readiness to thunder forth with cannon their mercy…"

6. 3pp ALS with integral address leaf, December 5, 1840, Brookline, Massachusetts. From James O. Adams to Jonathan Tenney, Jr., in part: "What a tremendous overthrow in political matters has been accomplished! I would advise the Jaco-Democratic-blood-hound-standing-army-administration-Van Buren-party to make an extra effort + procure an Eolian [sic] Harp, extending from Me. to Geo. so that on the 4th of March, when the Whigs touch off their full-grown earthquake, the magician's political death-dirge may be chanted by every passing wind…"

7. 2pp ALS, May 17, 1841, Boston, Massachusetts. From J.C. Bingham to an unknown correspondent discussing marine news, business operations, and legal cases.

8. 2pp ALS, April 18, 1843, New York, New York; with original transmittal wrapper. From Edward Cossens addressed to Alexander Mackay, in part: "You can see I am a whig and I go for log cabins and Hard Cider…"

9. Undated. 1p ALS with integral address leaf, February 1, [n.y.], Boston, Massachusetts. From John Richard [Baker] addressed to Captain Stephen Baker, discussing a barge schedule.

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This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: average size: 7.5" x 9.75"
  • Medium: Archive

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