Snapshots of the Past

Fifty cents. Shin plaster – Vintage Print

Fifty cents. Shin plaster, N.Y. : Published by H.R. Robinson, 1837. — antique lithograph
Fifty cents. Shin plaster, N.Y. : Published by H.R. Robinson, 1837.. 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

Few images capture their era like this antique lithograph of Fifty cents. Shin plaster. An authentic image from the Library of Congress, it carries the weight of the real historical record.

The framed print arrives ready to hang; the unframed option suits custom framing. Perfect for a home, office, library or classroom wall, and a gift with a story behind it. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Snapshots of the Past, founded in 2001, has served tens of thousands of customers worldwide.

Fifty cents. Shin plaster

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A fifty-cent "shin plaster" is the subject of this 1837 lithograph, which takes its name from the small paper notes that circulated when coins ran scarce. Published by H.R. Robinson in New York, it ties that worn-out currency to the fight over the Bank of the United States, and its subjects include Andrew Jackson, Nicholas Biddle, Thomas Hart Benton and Martin Van Buren. The conflict had been building since Jackson vetoed the bank's recharter in 1832 and moved federal deposits into state banks, and the Panic of 1837 soon followed. Political prints like this one gave ordinary voters a quick, pointed way to follow those disputes.

Created / publishedN.Y. : Published by H.R. Robinson, 1837.
Medium1 print : lithograph on wove paper ; 26.9 x 44.4 cm. (image)
GenreLithographs 1830-1840.Political cartoons 1830-1840.
NotesEntered . . . 1837 by H.R. Robinson. Published by H.R. Robinson, 52 Cortlandt St. N.Y. The print was actually registered for copyright on June 10 of that year. Title appears as it is written on the item. Weitenkampf, p. 50. 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 1837-11.
SubjectsBenton, Thomas Hart,--1782-1858. Biddle, Nicholas,--1786-1844. Jackson, Andrew,--1767-1845. Van Buren, Martin,--1782-1862. United States.--Senate--1830-1840. Bank of the United States--1830-1840. Banking--1830-1840. Depressions--United States--1830-1840. Economic policy--1830-1840.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan1,536 × 880 px · prints to 5 × 3 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-109558

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