Lincoln for President

For President ABRAM LINCOLN.
For Vice President HANNIBAL HAMLIN.
Philadelphia: H.C. Howard, 1860
Woodcut or lithograph on linen
Prints & Photographs Division

Abraham Lincoln, Republican
Candidate for President of the United States.
New York: Baker & Goodwin, 1860
Woodcut
Prints & Photographs Division
Copyright deposit, 1860
LC-USZ62-50721

In the 1860 presidential campaign, brightly colored banners, outrageous political cartoons, sentimental sheet music covers, and patriotic portraits were printed to win the vote. The colorful banner and the bold campaign poster support the candidacy of Abraham Lincoln during his first (and victorious) presidential campaign in 1860.

The flag was meant to hang like a banner in parades and other political spectacles, so that Lincoln's face would be oriented vertically. The printer liberally changed the spelling of Lincoln's first name ("Abram") to accommodate his design. The Library has a rich collection of graphic political ephemera, much of which came through copyright deposit.