Unbound
18880 · Durham, Nort Carolina
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 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)
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 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)
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