Matty's perilous situation up Salt River – Vintage Print
(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
Few images capture their era like this antique lithograph of Matty's perilous situation up Salt River. Sourced directly from the Library of Congress, it represents an authentic piece of documented history.
The framed print arrives ready to hang; the unframed option suits custom framing. It brings character to any room and makes a memorable gift. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Snapshots of the Past, founded in 2001, has served tens of thousands of customers worldwide.
Matty's perilous situation up Salt River
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Here, the satirical "Matty" (Martin Van Buren, the incumbent president) is shown in a precarious situation on the Salt River, a figure of speech in 1840 for political ruin or defeat. Edward Williams Clay, who signed the plate with his monogram, made the lithograph during the heated campaign between Van Buren and the Whig candidate William Henry Harrison, which Harrison won that November. The print, published in New York by J. Childs, is one of many caricatures of that election. It names several individuals in its subject list, including Alexander Ming and Levi D. Slamm, and it is worth noting how the cartoon uses a homely, comic scene to make a partisan point.
| Created / published | N.Y. : Published by J. Childs, 1840. |
|---|---|
| Medium | 1 print : lithograph on wove paper ; 35.1 x 49.2 cm. (image) |
| Genre | 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall |
| Notes | Entered . . . 1840 by J. Childs. Published by J. Childs no. 90 Nassau St. N.Y. Signed with monogram: EWC (Edward Williams Clay). The Library's impression was deposited for copyright on August 31, 1840. Printed in the lower margin is Price 25 Cents." Title appears as it is written on the item. Weitenkampf |
| Subjects | Harrison, William Henry,--1773-1841. Ming, Alexander,--1773?-1849. Slamm, Levi D.,--d 1862. Van Buren, Martin,--1782-1862. United States.--Army--1840. African Americans--1840. |
| Source | Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division |
| Original scan | 1,536 × 1,018 px · prints to 5 × 3 in at 300 dpi |
| Reference | AMZ-SOTP-HPA-162770 |
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