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Democracy against the unnatural union. Trial Octr. 14th 1817. – Antique Wall Art

Democracy against the unnatural union. Trial Octr. 14th 1817., [Philadelphia], 1817. — historic print
Democracy against the unnatural union. Trial Octr. 14th 1817., [Philadelphia], 1817.. Historic print 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

A window into the past: Democracy against the unnatural union. Trial Octr. 14th 1817., preserved in this historic print. The original is held by the Library of Congress, so what you hang is a true record of its time.

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Democracy against the unnatural union. Trial Octr. 14th 1817.

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The title's "Trial Octr. 14th 1817" points to Pennsylvania's October 1817 statewide election, which pitted Democratic-Republican William Findlay against Joseph Hiester. Hiester's candidacy drew support from Federalists and dissident Republicans, and the print attacks that alliance as an "unnatural union." The record names two rival Philadelphia papers, the Democratic-Republican *Aurora* and the Federalist-leaning *United States Gazette*, which reflects the bitter partisan press of the period. William Murrell attributed the etching to William Charles, and its red wash gives it the bold look of a campaign broadside.

Created / published[Philadelphia], 1817.
Medium1 print : etching with red wash on wove paper ; 35.2 x 25 cm. (plate)
GenreEtchings 1810-1820.Political cartoons 1810-1820.
NotesDesigned and Executed by one who has neither place nor pension. The print has been convincingly attributed by William Murrell to William Charles. The Library of Congress has two states of the print, in the second of which the shading is reinforced with rocker or roulette work. Title appears as it is written on the item. Murrell, p. 95. Weitenkampf, p. 20. Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress) Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1817-1.
SubjectsFindlay, William,--1768-1846. Hiester, Joseph,--1752-1832. Aurora (Philadelphia, Pa. : 1800)--1810-1820. United States gazette (Philadelphia, Pa. : 1824 : Semiweekly)--1810-1820. Pennsylvania--1810-1820.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan1,126 × 1,536 px · prints to 4 × 5 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-161159

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