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Photo, Print, Drawing [Lincoln & Douglas in a presidential footrace]. No. 1, 1860

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

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[ digital file from original ]

About this Item

Title

  • [Lincoln & Douglas in a presidential footrace]. No. 1, 1860

Summary

  • Rival presidential nominees Lincoln and Douglas are matched in a footrace, in which Lincoln's long stride is a clear advantage. Both sprint down a path toward the U.S. Capitol, which appears in the background right. They are separated from it by a rail fence, a reference to Lincoln's popular image as a rail-splitter. Douglas, whose characteristic shortness is here exaggerated to dwarfish dimensions, wonders aloud, "How can I get over this Rail Fence." Over his shoulder he carries a cane on which hangs a jug marked "M.C.," which probably refers to the Missouri Compromise, repealed in 1854 largely through Douglas's efforts. As he runs, playing cards spill from his pockets (suggesting perhaps a penchant for gambling). Lincoln, whose height is equally exaggerated, runs along beside him waving his hat and carrying a rail-splitter's maul over his shoulder. He says confidently, "It [i.e., the rail fence] can't sto\p me for I built it." From the fence on the far right a black youth taunts Douglas, "You can find me in dis yer Fence Massa Duglis." The last is evidently a reference to the slavery question central to the election campaign. The print probably appeared late in the campaign, as the Library's impression was deposited for copyright on September 21, 1860. The footrace image is also used in a similar cartoon discussed by Wilson, entitled "A Political Race" (Wilson, p. 52).

Names

  • J. Sage & Sons.

Created / Published

  • Buffalo, N.Y. : Published by J. Sage & Sons, 1860.

Headings

  • -  Douglas, Stephen A.--(Stephen Arnold),--1813-1861
  • -  Lincoln, Abraham,--1809-1865
  • -  United States Capitol (Washington, D.C.)--1860
  • -  Presidential elections--United States--1860
  • -  Slavery--1860

Headings

  • Lithographs--1860.
  • Political cartoons--1860.

Genre

  • Lithographs--1860
  • Political cartoons--1860

Notes

  • -  Entered . . . 1860 . . . by J. Sage & Sons.
  • -  Published by J. Sage & Sons 209 Main St. Buffalo N.Y.
  • -  Title appears as it is written on the item.
  • -  Weitenkampf, p. 121-122.
  • -  Wilson, p. 20-21.
  • -  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 1860-38.

Medium

  • 1 print : lithograph on wove paper ; 29.9 x 34.5 cm. (image)

Call Number/Physical Location

  • PC/US - 1860.S129, no. 1 (B size) [P&P]

Source Collection

  • American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)

Repository

  • Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print

Digital Id

  • cph 3a17091 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a17091
  • ppmsca 15777 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.15777

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2008661608

Reproduction Number

  • LC-DIG-ppmsca-15777 (digital file from original) LC-USZ62-14834 (b&w film copy neg.)

Rights Advisory

  • No known restrictions on publication.

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

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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-DIG-ppmsca-15777 (digital file from original) LC-USZ62-14834 (b&w film copy neg.)
  • Call Number: PC/US - 1860.S129, no. 1 (B size) [P&P]
  • Access Advisory: ---

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Cite This Item

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

Chicago citation style:

J. Sage & Sons. Lincoln & Douglas in a presidential footrace. No. 1. United States, 1860. Buffalo, N.Y.: Published by J. Sage & Sons. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2008661608/.

APA citation style:

J. Sage & Sons. (1860) Lincoln & Douglas in a presidential footrace. No. 1. United States, 1860. Buffalo, N.Y.: Published by J. Sage & Sons. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2008661608/.

MLA citation style:

J. Sage & Sons. Lincoln & Douglas in a presidential footrace. No. 1. Buffalo, N.Y.: Published by J. Sage & Sons. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2008661608/>.