Lot 99
North America, United States, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, William Charles, 1817. A rare print by attributed to William Charles (1776-1820) by William Murrell that is entitled, "Democracy Against the Unnatural Union. Trial Octr. 14th 1817" satirizing the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election of 1817 and the fight between William Findlay and Charles Hiester for the nomination of the Democratic-Republican party. The print comes with a description panel that also appears on the Library of Congress' Prints & Photographs Online Catalog. See below for this text. A particularly relevant piece given the drama of the upcoming US national elections and the fact that we are approaching the bicentennial of this election! Size: 9.25" W x 13.5" H (23.5 cm x 34.3 cm)
The Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online Catalog describes this piece as follows, "A satire on the 1817 Pennsylvania gubernatorial race between William Findlay and Joseph Heister. The artist clearly favors the former, and charges corruption in Heister's campaign. Findlay appears to be buoyed toward the governor's chair by the voices of a crowd of voters, who stand around a ballot box (or platform) on the left. From various members of the crowd come the words: "voice of the people," "the man of our Choice," "Chosen with open doors," "no bribery or Corruption," "let me impress it on your minds who was nominated by 113 delegates of true Republican principles," "I will record the deed," and "True Democracy." Findlay says, "How easy do I ascend." On the right another crowd is assembled. Several men hold up a platform made of bundles of the "Aurora" and "U.S.Gazette" newspapers and "Shingles bought at 10 pounds and paid for at 8 pounds," which in turn supports planks "Federalism," "Old Schoolism" and "1364 Dollars." On top stands candidate Heister, holding a paper "Serious Reflections . . . " and saying "Mercy on me-What a foundation I stand upon!!!" Various people below say: "I would Vote for Old Nick provided I could get a good Office," "I am thinking to myself how foolish we shall look if we do not Succeed," "We must have recourse to all kinds of Strategem or we cannot succeed," and "I do not much relish this Union But Concience [sic] Avaunt." An eagle with olive branch on the left and lightning bolts on the right appears in the sky below the chair."
Additional notes from LOC: Title appears as it is written on the item.; The print has been convincingly attributed by William Murrell to William Charles. The Library of Congress has two states of the print, in the second of which the shading is reinforced with rocker or roulette work. The Library of Congress has three impressions of the print, two colored and one black & white. The second colored impression is from the Marian S. Carson collection at the Library of Congress. Murrell, p. 95. Weitenkampf, p. 20. second colored impression (DLC/PP-2001:068) Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress). Forms part of: Marian S. Carson collection at the Library of Congress.
Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1817-1. (Murrell p. 95; Reilly 1817-1; Weitenkampf p. 20) (#3315) (http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2008661725/)
Provenance: Ex-Private New Jersey collection acquired before 1990
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#113682
- Condition: A few small tears to periphery as shown, but image completely intact and legible. Minor discoloring to paper but otherwise excellent.
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