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United States Civil War patriotic envelopes collection

Special Collections and Archives

United States Civil War patriotic envelopes collection

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Special Collections and Archives

United States Civil War patriotic envelopes collection

You are here

Repository: Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
Title: United States Civil War patriotic envelopes collection
Inclusive Date(s): 1861-1865
Author: Finding aid prepared by Stephanie Tulley
Creation: Finding aid encoded by Stephanie Tulley using the OhioLINK EAD Application in 2011
Origination: Ian Brabner (Bookseller)
Extent: .16 cubic feet (slim document case)
Physical Location: 11th floor
Finding Aid Identifier: OhKeUSC0130
Abstract: A varied collection of forty-four American Civil War-era patriotic envelopes dating from 1861-1865. Each envelope is adorned with artwork, often depicting the political and cultural turmoil of the time.
Language(s): The records are in English


Scope and Content

This collection consists of forty-five American Civil War patriotic envelopes dating from 1861-1865. The artwork on the envelopes covers a variety of subjects, ranging from caricatures of famous political figures to flags and patriotic poems.

Statement of Arrangement

The envelopes in this collection are arranged alphabetically by title.

Preferred Citation

United States Civil War patriotic envelopes collection. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased from Ian Brabner, Bookseller, Wilmington, Delaware, who also compiled the collection.

Subject Headings
The following subjects are found in this collection:

Subjects:
Covers (Philately)--United States--History--19th century
Covers (Philately)--Confederate States of America
Symbolism in politics--United States--History--19th century
Symbolism in politics--Confederate States of America
Popular culture--United States--History--19th century
Popular culture--Confederate States of America
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Postal service
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Pictorial works
Postal service--United States--History--19th century
Postal service--Confederate States of America
Functions:
Propaganda
Material Types:
Patriotic envelopes
Caricatures
Cartoons
Envelopes
Prints
National emblems



Detailed Description of the Collection

This collection of forty-four envelopes from the Civil War-era demonstrates political, social, and economic issues of the time. The subjects of the envelopes are varied, ranging from depictions of famous individuals, to the issues of slavery, secession, and traitors.

The titles given to each envelope reflect the captions listed on the envelope, unless otherwise noted.
Box 1 / Folder 1
Extended description of the collection by Ian Brabner (Bookseller), undated
Box 1 / Folder 2
Agriculture, Manufactures, Fine Arts, undated
Physical Description: Uncle Sam at the spinning wheel, turning hemp into a hanging noose
Box 1 / Folder 3
All we want is to be let alone, undated
Physical Description: Dog chasing rats away from the U.S. Mint carrying bags of money
Box 1 / Folder 4
Artemas Ward having had his "Wax Figger Show" 'fiscated, is taken before Jeff. Davis by the Vigilance Committee., undated
Physical Description: Artemus Ward, blindfolded, is being led through a wooden door by two men.
Box 1 / Folder 5
Beware, undated
Physical Description: Bald eagle standing on a federal shield, carrying a banner that reads
Box 1 / Folder 6
Blood money; Or how Southern Rebels encourage piracy, undated
Physical Description: Image of Jefferson Davis with the caption: First pirate to Jeff Davis-
Box 1 / Folder 7
The British Lion heedless of the Trap, The string of which is held by Emp'ror Nap..., undated
Physical Description: Man pulling a string on a trap, baiting a lion with cotton.
Box 1 / Folder 8
"By golly Massa Butler. I like dis better dan workin' in de field for ole Sesesh massa.", undated
Physical Description: An African-American man stands at a desk polishing boots.
Box 1 / Folder 9
Co. A. Jeff D's Zouaves, undated
Physical Description: Picture of two turtles
Box 1 / Folder 10
"Come back here, you black rascal." "Can't come back nohow, massa; Dis chile's contraban' ", undated
Physical Description: Depicts a white man holding a whip facing a group of African-Americans running toward Fort Monroe.
Box 1 / Folder 11
Contraband of war, undated
Physical Description: Union flag flying behind two soldiers facing a group of African-American men holding tools.
Box 1 / Folder 12
Cotton is king!, undated
Physical Description: Man kneeling over an African-American man, with his hands outstretched to a caricature of a bushel of cotton wearing a crown.
Box 1 / Folder 13
Don't see it; Big thing Big thing, 1861
Physical Description: Two dogs talking over a piece of meat labeled
Box 1 / Folder 14
Don't you wish you may get it?, undated
Physical Description: Rooster labeled
Box 1 / Folder 15
E. E. Ellsworth, undated
Physical Description: Portrait of E. E. Ellsworth with the caption,
Box 1 / Folder 16
Fate of traitors, 1861
Physical Description: Depiction of Jefferson Davis being hung by a noose.
Box 1 / Folder 17
Father- Col. Ellsworth was shot dead this morning. I killed his murderer. Frank., 1861
Physical Description: Depiction of a Zouave bayonetting a man, with other Zouaves in the background.
Box 1 / Folder 18
Guards, up and at them, undated
Physical Description: Depiction of a Zouaves pointing a gun.
Box 1 / Folder 19
His marque., undated
Physical Description: A flag with a leg with A.L. [Abraham Lincoln] over it kicking the rear of a man labeled J.D. [Jefferson Davis].
Box 1 / Folder 20
The innocent cause of all the trouble., undated
Physical Description: A caricature of the devil sitting on top of a bail of cotton.
Box 1 / Folder 21
The innocent cause of the war., undated
Physical Description: Caricature of a slave holding a garden hoe.
Box 1 / Folder 22
I'se contraband, undated
Physical Description: Image of an African-American man in front of a star holding the names of the Confederate states.
Box 1 / Folder 23
I wonder if the coast is clear?, undated
Physical Description: Union military cats sit atop bales of cotton, and look on at hanging rats.
Box 1 / Folder 24
Jeff Davis alarmed, undated
Physical Description: Jefferson Davis caricaturized as a scarecrow saying,
Box 1 / Folder 25
Jeff's Knave-y, undated
Physical Description: Jefferson Davis and six men in a bowl with a pirate flag flying. Underneath it says,
Box 1 / Folder 26
John Brown, undated
Physical Description: A portrait of John Brown, with the caption,
Box 1 / Folder 27
Major General B. F. Butler, 1861
Physical Description: A portrait of the General with the caption,
Box 1 / Folder 28
One of the "Flowers" of the Rebel Army, provided with a pair of seven-league boots, undated
Physical Description: Solider with a boot hanging from his back pocket.
Box 1 / Folder 29
Rebel Army "Rations.", undated
Physical Description: Three soldiers eating from barrels labeled
Box 1 / Folder 30
Repudiation, undated
Physical Description: Man wearing a hat labeled
Box 1 / Folder 31
Rice straw!, undated
Physical Description: Two dogs bark at a starving horse, with the caption,
Box 1 / Folder 32
Scott's Tactics, undated
Physical Description: Picture of a man and a dog hunting down a small animal with a spear.
Box 1 / Folder 33
Secession Cavalry, undated
Physical Description: Confederate soliders riding on the backs of African-American men.
Box 1 / Folder 34
Secession hanging from the Union 34 pounder, undated
Physical Description: Cariacture of an officer hanging from a noose by a weight labeled
Box 1 / Folder 35
Secessionist, undated
Physical Description: Image of a donkey with the caption,
Box 1 / Folder 36
Southern Ass-Stock-Crazy (Southern Aristocracy), undated
Physical Description: Image of a donkey chained to a wooden post labeled
Box 1 / Folder 37
Spirit of the South, undated
Physical Description: Caricature of three men depicted as being drunk, holding up glasses.
Box 1 / Folder 38
Stiring him up., undated
Physical Description: Jeff Davis on his hands and knees in a mobile circus cart labeled,
Box 1 / Folder 39
That's the bait!, undated
Physical Description: A Union man fishing with a cannon as bait, while fish labeled with the names of Confederate states swim to the bait.
Box 1 / Folder 40
Union glue, undated
Physical Description: Three Confederate men trying to pull another from the floor.
Box 1 / Folder 41
Whole or none., undated
Physical Description: Image of a hog split in the middle by a Union flag.
Box 1 / Folder 42
Why don't you take it?, undated
Physical Description: General Scott caricatured as a dog talking to Jefferson Davis, also caricatured as a dog, over a piece of meat labeled
Box 1 / Folder 43
Untitled: Bald eagle holding banner in its beak, undated
Physical Description: Banner bears a patriotic poem.
Box 1 / Folder 44
Untitled: Dogs with North and South collars, undated
Box 1 / Folder 45
Untitled: Rooster and chicken, undated
Physical Description: Rooster with Union flag facing chicken with pirate flag
Box 1 / Folder 46
Untitled: Union flag, undated
Physical Description: Union flag with a patriotic poem underneath