1880 – A bi-partisan, metamorphic trade card advertising Durham tobacco with images of the expected presidential candidates for 1880, Democratic Governor of New York Samuel J. Tilden and the incumbent Republican President Ulysses S. Grant who was being encouraged for a third term

Durham, Nort Carolina, 18880. Unbound. Very good. This colorful metamorphic advertising trade card measures approximately 3½” x 4” folded and 3½” x 5¾” unfolded. It was likely issued in 1880 when Samuel J. Tilden was eying another presidential run after being defeated in 1876, and former president Ulysses S. Grant was contemplating running for a third term.

When folded, the card shows a shoulder-up portrait of Samuel J. Tilden, the Democratic Governor of New York, with an accompanying poem that reads,

“Come all you true born Democrats, / You hardy hearts of oak, /
Who know a thing when it is good / And Blackwell’s Durham (truncated) smoke, /
Gaze on this face and you will see /
Your presidential nominee /The sage and statesman S. J. T.”

When opened the card displays a waist-up portrait of Ulyssess S. Grant (using the same forehead as the Tilden image), the incumbent President of the United States who was being encouraged to run for a third term. The accompanying verse reads,

“And all you good Republicans / Will surely be enchanted, /
When you behold the visage here, / And take the fact for Granted /
That he will win if he will be /
Your presidential nominee / The soldier hero U.S. G. /
“But though you differ in your views / Political, we hope /
You coincide when we remark, / The choicest brand to smoke /
Is Blackwell’s Genuine Durham, that /
Suits every taste no matter what, Republican or Democrat.”

An advertisement for Durham, North Carolina tobacco featuring its famous bull is on the reverse. This card was distributed by a New London, Connecticut grocer. The card was printed by the Donaldson Brothers at Five Points, New York. (Inventory #: 010405)