Two remarkable items – an 1860 John C. Breckenridge portrait campaign flag and the 1864 Rose Percy Doll, the most famous Civil War benefit doll of them all – both of them singular in the annals of Political & Americana memorabilia, will be featured as part of Heritage Auctions’ Nov. 17 Grand Format Americana Auction, online (www.HA.com) and live in-person in Dallas.
“These two amazing pieces of American material culture provide evocative bookends on the Civil War,” said Tom Slater, Director of Americana at Heritage Auctions. “The never-before-seen 1860 Breckenridge portrait campaign flag is the missing link for collectors of Lincoln’s first election to the presidency, while the Rose Percy Doll is – minus Barbie, perhaps – the most famous American doll of them all.”
The 1860 John C. Breckenridge portrait campaign flag is one of the most important finds ever in the political collecting hobby. There were four candidates for the 1860 election and portrait banner flags have long been known for three of the candidates – several different in some cases – but no one has ever found a portrait flag for the Breckinridge & Lane ticket, only a ‘name’ flag, which is in an institutional collection. It may have taken nearly 150 years of looking, but this flag was found under the floorboards of a Philadelphia house and is now readying for auction at Heritage. The flag, while estimated at $75,000+, has already received a bid at that level.
Heritage Auctions will be auctioning off the one and only Rose Percy, the historic and beloved wax doll originally sold in 1864 to benefit the U.S. Sanitary Commission, on behalf of the American Red Cross. It is estimated at $40,000-$60,000.
Rose is a 23″ English poured wax doll with blue eyes and blond hair, possibly made by Charles Marsh or Herbert John Meech. It was initially sold at the April 1864 Metropolitan Fair in New York City to raise funds for the work of the Sanitary Commission. She is offered with an original wardrobe of clothing and collection of accessories that are second to none in scope, quality, or history – they number 22 in all, each with its own box, including original work by Tiffany & Co. The doll’s was most likely imported directly from London in 1862 and given to the young ladies of Mrs. Ogden Hoffman’s boarding school, who gave her a hand sewn wardrobe, and persuaded local merchants, including Tiffany & Co., to donate the raw materials and accessories.
Further Highlights include, but are not limited to:
Political Textiles:
Abraham Lincoln: The largest 1860 Lincoln & Hamlin Name Flag yet encountered at Heritage Auctions. Estimate: $25,000-$35,000
Abraham Lincoln: Magnificent, colorful banner crafted from elements of an 1860 campaign flag. Estimate: $12,000-$18,000.
Andrew Johnson: Extremely rare cloth bandana depicting him as President. Estimate: $8,000-$12,000.
Grant & Wilson: Rare Jugate 1872 campaign flag. Estimate: $15,000-$20,000.
Political Buttons:
Theodore Roosevelt: Premiere 1912 TR Single-Picture button design. Estimate: $5,000-$7,000.
Davis & Bryan: Profoundly Rare and Important 1¼” Jugate Button. Estimate: $14,000-$18,000.
Wendell Willkie: Classic “Out at Third” cartoon design button. Estimate: $8,000-$10,000.
Nineteenth Century Political:
DeWitt Clinton: Superb hand-painted Stobwasser snuffbox picturing Madison’s 1812 opponent. Estimate: $6,000-$8,000
James Monroe: Extremely rare and sought after portrait mug with Monroe’s name spelled “Munroe.” Estimate: $14,000-$16,000.
Lewis Cass: The “Holy Grail” For Collectors of 19th-Century Political Ribbons. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000.
Zachary Taylor: Rare companion piece to the Lewis Cass ribbon. Estimate: $3,000-$4,000.
Breckinridge & Lane: Prohibitively rare Currier & Ives “Grand National Banner” campaign poster. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000.
Lincoln & Johnson: Key 1864 Currier “Grand National Banner” campaign poster, the rarest of them all. Estimate: $10,000-$12,000.
George B. McClellan: An extremely rare and important 1864 campaign lantern. Estimate: $7,500-$10,000.
Miscellaneous important Americana: Annie Oakley cabinet card, signed. Estimate: $8,000-$12,000.
“I Want You for U.S. Army” World War I Uncle Sam patriotic poster by James Montgomery Flagg, 1917. Estimate: $3,000-$5,000
“D. B. Cooper” 1971 Ransom Money. Serial #L20301456A. Series 1969 $20 Federal Reserve Note.
This is one of 11 lots of DB Cooper ransom notes. This particular one has both a full serial# and the FBI agent?s initials. Estimate: $1,500+
Heritage Auctions, headed by Steve Ivy, Jim Halperin and Greg Rohan, is the world?s third largest auction house, with annual sales more than $700 million, and 470,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.