Lincoln & Johnson: Superb Large 1864 Campaign Flag
Sells For $44,812.50
Lincoln & Johnson: Superb Large 1864 Campaign Flag. The identical variety to the example we sold at auction in June 2005, which fetched $29,900. Condition of the present flag is equal or perhaps slightly superior to that copy: the flag sold in 2005 had slight general soiling and a bit of edge roughness, whereas this one is cleaner overall, with several very small brown marks and two tiny holes in the striped area near the lower right-hand corner. Colors were bright and vivid on both. This variety is unlisted in Threads of History, and we know of only one other example in the collection of a major flag collector. It was ingeniously created by a manufacturer who recycled 1860 Bell & Everett flags (considering the showing of that ticket, it is hardly surprising that there were leftovers!). The 1864 Union ticket of Lincoln & Johnson also used the "Union and Constitution" theme promoted by Bell in 1860, so it was a small matter to excise Bell & Everett's names from the old flags and sew in place cotton fabric strips printed with Lincoln & Johnson's names. It is very well accomplished, and unless one looks closely, one would not even notice the substitution. This flag belonged to the late Dr. Jack Rockett, APIC president in the 1970s, and an avid collector. Most of Jack's collection was sold before his death some 18 years ago, but this flag was one of his favorite items, and it is only now that the family has decided to share it with the hobby through this convention auction. 27" x 16", nicely framed under glass to 32" x 21.5".