Top of page

[ digital file from b&w film copy neg. ]

More Resources

[ digital file from color film copy transparency ]

About this Item

Title

  • Specie claws

Summary

  • A melodramatic portrayal of the plight of the tradesman during the Panic of 1837, whose financial distress the artist ascribes to Loco Foco politics and the effects of the Specie Circular, or "Specie Clause." Though a product of the Jackson administration, the measure was also associated with the monetary progam of Jackson successor and protege Martin Van Buren. Designed to curb inflationary speculation, the circular stipulated that only specie (i.e., gold or silver) be accepted as payment for federal lands. Radical Democrats, or "Loco Focos," of New York supported Van Buren's anti-Bank fiscal policies. The panic depressed the economy for several years, and caused widespread unemployment. A despondent tradesman, or mechanic, sits at a table in his humble dwelling, a copy of radical Democratic newspaper the "New Era" on his lap. On the wall behind him are prints of Jackson and Van Buren. Strewn at his feet are his tools, and his toolbox is empty but for "Loco Foco Pledges." He laments, "I have no money, and cannot get any work." Beside him are his wife and children. His wife, holding an infant, says, "My dear, cannot you contrive to get some food for the children? I don't care for myself." The children speak: "I'm so hungry," "I say Father, can't you get some "Specie Claws?" and "Father can't I have a piece of bread?" The landlord's agents appear at the door with a warrant of "Distraint for Rent." One says, "I say Sam, I wonder where we are to get our Costs." Weitenkampf tentatively dates the cartoon 1838.

Names

  • Dacre, Henry, approximately 1820-
  • Robinson, Henry R., -1850.

Created / Published

  • N.Y. : Printed & publd. by H.R. Robinson, [1838 or 1839]

Headings

  • -  Van Buren, Martin,--1782-1862
  • -  Equal Rights Party (New York, N.Y.)--1830-1840
  • -  Democratic Republican new era--1830-1840
  • -  Employment--1830-1840

Headings

  • Lithographs--1830-1840.
  • Political cartoons--1830-1840.

Genre

  • Lithographs--1830-1840
  • Political cartoons--1830-1840

Notes

  • -  Printed & publd. by H.R. Robinson, 52 Cortlandt St. N.Y.
  • -  Signed with monogram: HD (Henry Dacre?).
  • -  Title appears as it is written on the item.
  • -  Weitenkampf, p. 52.
  • -  Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)
  • -  Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1838-14.

Medium

  • 1 print : lithograph with watercolor on wove paper ; 30.6 x 41.2 cm.(image)

Call Number/Physical Location

  • PC/US - 1838.R661, no. 57 (B size) [P&P]

Source Collection

  • American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)

Repository

Digital Id

  • cph 3a36991 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a36991
  • cph 3g03240 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3g03240

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2008661325

Reproduction Number

  • LC-USZ62-36585 (b&w film copy neg.) LC-USZC4-3240 (color film copy transparency)

Rights Advisory

  • No known restrictions on publication.

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress does not own rights to material in its collections. Therefore, it does not license or charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material.

Ultimately, it is the researcher's obligation to assess copyright or other use restrictions and obtain permission from third parties when necessary before publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the Library's collections.

For information about reproducing, publishing, and citing material from this collection, as well as access to the original items, see: American Cartoon Print Filing Series - Rights and Restrictions Information

  • Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
  • Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-36585 (b&w film copy neg.) LC-USZC4-3240 (color film copy transparency)
  • Call Number: PC/US - 1838.R661, no. 57 (B size) [P&P]
  • Access Advisory: ---

Obtaining Copies

If an image is displaying, you can download it yourself. (Some images display only as thumbnails outside the Library of Congress because of rights considerations, but you have access to larger size images on site.)

Alternatively, you can purchase copies of various types through Library of Congress Duplication Services.

  1. If a digital image is displaying: The qualities of the digital image partially depend on whether it was made from the original or an intermediate such as a copy negative or transparency. If the Reproduction Number field above includes a reproduction number that starts with LC-DIG..., then there is a digital image that was made directly from the original and is of sufficient resolution for most publication purposes.
  2. If there is information listed in the Reproduction Number field above: You can use the reproduction number to purchase a copy from Duplication Services. It will be made from the source listed in the parentheses after the number.

    If only black-and-white ("b&w") sources are listed and you desire a copy showing color or tint (assuming the original has any), you can generally purchase a quality copy of the original in color by citing the Call Number listed above and including the catalog record ("About This Item") with your request.

  3. If there is no information listed in the Reproduction Number field above: You can generally purchase a quality copy through Duplication Services. Cite the Call Number listed above and include the catalog record ("About This Item") with your request.

Price lists, contact information, and order forms are available on the Duplication Services Web site.

Access to Originals

Please use the following steps to determine whether you need to fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room to view the original item(s). In some cases, a surrogate (substitute image) is available, often in the form of a digital image, a copy print, or microfilm.

  1. Is the item digitized? (A thumbnail (small) image will be visible on the left.)

    • Yes, the item is digitized. Please use the digital image in preference to requesting the original. All images can be viewed at a large size when you are in any reading room at the Library of Congress. In some cases, only thumbnail (small) images are available when you are outside the Library of Congress because the item is rights restricted or has not been evaluated for rights restrictions.
      As a preservation measure, we generally do not serve an original item when a digital image is available. If you have a compelling reason to see the original, consult with a reference librarian. (Sometimes, the original is simply too fragile to serve. For example, glass and film photographic negatives are particularly subject to damage. They are also easier to see online where they are presented as positive images.)
    • No, the item is not digitized. Please go to #2.
  2. Do the Access Advisory or Call Number fields above indicate that a non-digital surrogate exists, such as microfilm or copy prints?

    • Yes, another surrogate exists. Reference staff can direct you to this surrogate.
    • No, another surrogate does not exist. Please go to #3.
  3. If you do not see a thumbnail image or a reference to another surrogate, please fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room. In many cases, the originals can be served in a few minutes. Other materials require appointments for later the same day or in the future. Reference staff can advise you in both how to fill out a call slip and when the item can be served.

To contact Reference staff in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room, please use our Ask A Librarian service or call the reading room between 8:30 and 5:00 at 202-707-6394, and Press 3.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Dacre, Henry, Approximately, and Henry R Robinson. Specie Claws. , 1838. [N.Y.: Printed & publd. by H.R. Robinson, or 1839] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2008661325/.

APA citation style:

Dacre, H. & Robinson, H. R. (1838) Specie Claws. , 1838. [N.Y.: Printed & publd. by H.R. Robinson, or 1839] [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2008661325/.

MLA citation style:

Dacre, Henry, Approximately, and Henry R Robinson. Specie Claws. [N.Y.: Printed & publd. by H.R. Robinson, or 1839] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2008661325/>.