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Legal tender polka by F. Chase / A. McLean Lith. – Historic Reproduction

Legal tender polka by F. Chase / A. McLean Lith., St. Louis, Mo. : Balmer & Weber, c1863. — antique lithograph
Legal tender polka by F. Chase / A. McLean Lith., St. Louis, Mo. : Balmer & Weber, c1863.. Antique lithograph from the Historic Print Archive collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

This rare antique lithograph captures Legal tender polka by F. Chase / A. McLean Lith. in remarkable detail. Sourced directly from the Library of Congress, it represents an authentic piece of documented history.

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Legal tender polka by F. Chase / A. McLean Lith.

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Few sheet music covers from the Civil War era name a currency as directly as this one does. The color lithograph advertises the *Legal Tender Polka*, published in St. Louis by Balmer & Weber around 1863. The title refers to the Legal Tender Act of 1862, which authorized the federal government to issue paper notes, called greenbacks, that had to be accepted for debts. Americans were still getting used to this unfamiliar paper money, so the title would have been topical. The cover is credited to F. Chase for the music and to A. McLean for the lithography.

Created / publishedSt. Louis, Mo. : Balmer & Weber, c1863.
Medium1 print : lithograph, color.
GenreSheet music covers 1860-1870.Lithographs Color 1860-1870.
NotesCopyright by Balmer & Weber. Title from item.
SubjectsMoney--American--1860-1870.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan1,201 × 1,536 px · prints to 4 × 5 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-113781

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