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Original 1840 silk campaign ribbon with substantial deterioration and loss at the upper end, including heavy creasing, fraying and long loose silk fibers. Printed design remains continuous and legible. Scattered age toning, handling wear and small edge losses/fraying are present. Small red mark/stain near the publisher imprint. Approximately 2 7/8” wide × 8 3/4” surviving body length, excluding the longest loose upper fibers.
Original 1840 William Henry Harrison presidential campaign ribbon titled “The Poor Man’s Friend,” published by John Medairy of North Calvert Street, Baltimore.
The silk ribbon is headed “Dedicated to the Young Men’s National Convention” and features a portrait of Harrison surrounded by references to his military career, including Thames, Tippecanoe and Meigs. An eagle above carries a “Harrison & Reform” banner, with a log cabin below the portrait and “THE POOR MANS FRIEND” prominently printed beneath.
The publisher’s imprint reads “Pub. by John Medairy, N. Calvert-st.”
The Library of Congress identifies this design as an 1840 Whig campaign ribbon probably issued for the Young Men’s National Convention held in Baltimore on May 4, 1840. The Baltimore gathering occurred after Harrison had received the Whig presidential nomination in December 1839.
The principal printed composition remains continuous and clearly legible. The extended unprinted area above the design has substantial deterioration, including heavy creasing and crumpling, fabric loss, fraying and long loose silk fibers. There is additional age toning and handling wear, small areas of edge fraying/loss, and a small red mark or stain near the publisher imprint.
Approximately 2 7/8” wide × 8 3/4” surviving body length, excluding the longest loose fibers extending from the damaged upper end.
An uncommon piece of original material from the 1840 Harrison presidential campaign and its celebrated log-cabin imagery.
Shipping: The ribbon has been placed in a protective sleeve between rigid corrugated-plastic boards and will be shipped flat to minimize movement and bending in transit.
