Nineteenth Century Political Cartoons Collection, 1808-1869 | Northern Illinois University

Collection Overview

Title: Nineteenth Century Political Cartoons Collection, 1808-1869

ID: RHC/RC/249

Extent: 4.0 Linear Feet

Subjects: American wit and humor, Cartoons, Political, Elections--United States, Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865., United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865, United States--Politics and government

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The political cartoons in this collection date from 1808 through 1869. There are seventy-four different cartoons, with a number of duplicates for a total of nintey-two. Several of the cartoons have been hand colored. Also included is one folder containing background material on some of the artists and cartoons represented here, taken from various sources. These cartoons were drawn by a number of prominent artists of the period including: William Charles (1803-1820), David Claypool Johnston (1825-1863), Edward Williams Clay (1830's-1857), Henry R. Robinson (1830's-1850's), and Thomas W. Strong (1840's-1865). Several lesser known artists are also represented. A number of the cartoons by unidentified artists were published by Currier & Ives, as well as by W.R. Robinson. The subjects covered in this collection include: the War of 1812, the Economic Crisis of 1837, Andrew Jackson, Secession, the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, and Jefferson Davis.

Subject/Index Terms

American wit and humor
Cartoons, Political
Elections--United States
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
United States--Politics and government

Administrative Information

Repository: Northern Illinois University

Access Restrictions: There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Use Restrictions: Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Acquisition Method: The Nineteenth Century Political Cartoons in this collection came to the Regional History Center from Rare Books and Special Collections. The collection was unsolicited and the donor is unknown.

Related Materials: Additional material relating to Civil War broadsides/posters is located in the Fay Collection (RC 26). Researchers interested in political campaigns may wish to view the campaign memorabilia in UA 11.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[All]

Box 1

Folder 1: Political Cartoons, Background Material
Item 1: "The Tory Editor and his Apes giving their pitiful advice to the American Sailors," William Charles, 1808: 35.5 cm x 25.3 cm (one corner torn off)
Item 2: "The Ghost of a Dollar or the Bankers Surprize," William Charles, 1809: 31 cm x 39 cm
Item 3: "John Bull making a new Batch of Ships to send to the Lakes," William Charles, 1813: 35.1 cm x 26 cm (etching)
Item 4: "Democracy against the Unnatural Union, Trial of Oct 14th, 1817," William Charles, 1817: 6.5 cm x 38.6 cm
Item 5: "The Pedlar and his Pack or the Desperate Effort, an Over Balance," unknown, 1828: 40 cm x 28.7 cm (hand colored etching)
Item 6: "Richard III," D.C. Johnston, 1828: 19.5 cm x 23.8 cm (original signature in pencil)
Item 7: "The Rats leaving a Falling House," E.W. Clay, 1831: 29 cm x 46 cm
Item 8: "A Political Game of Brag," William R. Browne, 1831: 35.1 cm x 26.1 cm (lithograph)
Item 9: "Caucus on the Surplus Bill," H.R. Robinson, circa 1832: 45 cm x 30.5 cm
Item 10: "Exhibition of Cabinet Pictures," Snooks?, 1833: 29.4 cm x 23 cm
Item 11: "The Downfall of Mother Bank," by "Zek Downing," publisher by H.R. Robinson, 1833: 4.7 cm x 33 cm (lithograph)
Item 12: "Symptoms of a Locked Jaw," D.C. Johnston, 1834: 23 cm x 28.6 cm (lithograph)
Item 13: "This is the House that Jack Built," E.W. Clay, 1834: 36.5 cm x 54.3 cm
Item 14: "[Apology - Mediation - Satisfaction, unknown, 1836: 37.5 cm x 27.7 cm
Item 15: "Set-To Between the Champion Old Tip & the Swell Dutchman of Kinderhook 1836," H.R. Robinson, 1836: 50.7 cm x 34 cm
Item 16: "Loco Foco Consternation or the Orful Kat-ass - Trophe," H.R. Robinson, 1836: 2 prints, larger is 52.6 cm x 34.5 cm
Item 17: "A Gone Case," H.R. Robinson, 1836-38: 52.5 cm x 34.5 cm
Item 18: "Fifty Cents Shin Plaster," H.R. Robinson, May 10, 1837: 4 prints, largest print is 54 cm x 36 cm (one print is hand colored)
Item 19: "Who?ll Have the Specie?" H.R. Robinson, 1837: 39.6 cm x 29.4 cm
Item 20: "Whig Bazaar," H.R. Robinson, 1837: 48.6 cm x 32.8 cm
Item 21: "The Death of Old Ta cmany and His Wife Loco Foco," H.R. Robinson, 1837: 51 cm x 34.5 cm
Item 22: "Old Jack in the Last Agony and the Fox Caught in a Rat Trap," drawn by E.W. Clay, publisher by H.R. Robinson, 1837: 52.5 cm x 34.6 cm
Item 23: "Price Current," H.R. Robinson, 1838: 52.6 cm x 34.5 cm (hand water colored)
Item 24: "Loco Foco Expresses," H.R. Robinson, 1838: 52.6 cm x 33.5 cm
Item 25: "Loco Foco Persecution, or Custom House, Versus Caricatures," H.R. Robinson, 1838: 52.5 cm x 34.5 cm (hand water colored)
Item 26: "Sober Second Thoughts," H.R. Robinson, 1838: 2 prints, larger, hand colored print is 48.9 cm x 33 cm
Item 27: "Executive Maercy and the Bambers," H.R. Robinson,, 1838: 2 prints, larger, hand colored print is 50.5 cm x 31.4 cm
Item 28: "The Globe Man," H.R. Robinson, 1838: 2 prints, larger print is 27 cm x 35.6 cm
Item 29: "The Man Wot Pays No Postage," H.R. Robinson, 1839: 49.5 cm x 34.5 cm (hand colored)
Item 30: "A Bull Chase," H.R. Robinson, 1839: 53.2 cm x 35.7 cm
Item 31: "Rats Quitting the Ship," H.R. Robinson, 1839: 43.2 cm x 33 cm
Item 32: "The Cut Direct," H.R. Robinson, 1839: 44.4 cm x 35 cm
Item 33: "The Meeting at Saratoga," H.R. Robinson, 1839: 2 prints, larger print is 52.5 cm x 34.5 cm
Item 34: "Granny Harrison Delivering the Country of the Executive Federalist," H.R. Robinson, 1840: 44.6 cm x 33 cm
Item 35: "[The New Era Whig Trap Spring, H.R. Robinson, 1840: 32.5 cm x 27.5 cm (has been mended)
Item 36: "The Little Magician Invoked," James Baillie, 1844: 2 prints, larger print is 54.4 cm x 36 cm (H. Bewhulrer, artist?)
Item 37: "The Candidate of Many Parties," H.R. Robinson, 1848: 43 cm x 33 cm
Item 38: "Grand Presidential Sweeps-Stakes for 1849," H.R. Robinson, 1848: 43 cm x 33 cm
Item 39: "The Ostend Doctrine," by Louis Maurer, publisher by Currier and Ives, 1854: 45.5 cm x 34.2 cm (lithograph)
Item 40: "Soliciting a Vote," unknown, 1856?: 28.3 cm x 19.5 cm
Item 41: "The Sad Parting Between Two Old Friends," unknown, no date: 27.9 cm x 18.1 cm
Item 42: "The Great American Buck Hunt of 1856," unknown, 1856: 45.8 cm x 34.3 cm
Item 43: "The Democratic Platform," unknown, circa 1856: 45.5 cm x 34 cm; Access Restriction: see #44 below
Item 44: "The Democratische Plattform," unknown, circa 1856: 45.5 cm x 34.3 cm; Access Restriction: similar to above, but in Dutch
Item 45: "The Balls are Rolling_Clear the Track_," unknown, 1856: 45.2 cm x 33.4 cm
Item 46: "The Great Republican Reform Party, Calling on their Candidate," by Louis Maurer, publisher by Currier and Ives, 1856: 45.5 cm x 34.2 cm (lithograph)
Item 47: ""The Impending Crisis"_ or Caught in the Act," Currier and Ives, 1860: 2 prints, largest print is 45.6 cm x 33.5 cm
Item 48: "Domestic Troubles," Strong?s Dime Caricatures - Number 1, T.W. Strong, 1861: 3 prints, largest is 48.4 cm x 30.4 cm
Item 49: "Little Bo-Peep and Her Foolish Sheep," Strong?s Dime Caricatures - Number 2, T.W. Strong, 1861: 2 prints, larger print is 48.5 cm x 30.3 cm (wood engraving)

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