Political and Patriotic Memorabilia on Sale

Large very detailed banner from the Elks Lodge hangs on a long brass rod with fringe and tassels.The I.B.P.O. stands for the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the W...

A great piece of Americana, this 19th century fancy cast iron foot stool comes from a Masonic lodge. Note the stars, columns, acanthus leaf legs a...

Napoleon Bonaparte circular plaque Circa 1900 Origin France Ormolu Illegible signature perfect condition.

Presented is a George Washington Bicentennial parade flag from 1932. The flag is printed with blue, white, and red stripes, with a prominent bust portrait of George Washington at cen...

Presented is a George Washington Bicentennial parade flag from 1932. The flag is printed with gold, white, and blue stripes, with a prominent bust portrait of George Washington at center. The words “Washington Bicentennial” and the dates “1732-1932" are printed in blue above and below the portrait. The flag is attached to its original stick, with a painted gold finial at top. This flag would have been used during a parade or similarly festive event celebrating the 200 year anniversary of George Washington’s birth. The bicentennial of Washington’s birth in February, 1932, was an occasion celebrated throughout the United States. In anticipation of the two hundred year anniversary, President Coolidge established the official George Washington Bicentennial Commission in December of 1924. Throughout the next seven years, the Commission organized numerous projects, programs and celebrations to commemorate the historic date, and encouraged communities and civic organizations throughout the United States to do so as well. The holiday was an “opportunity to reacquaint Americans with their country’s aspirations and principles of government, separate the man from the myth with educational materials about his life and accomplishments, inspire patriotism and have some fun” (Baskin). The excitement by which Americans lauded Washington was evident in the sheer scale of the celebration. Records indicate that there were “4,760,345 individual bicentennial programs held by churches, schools, civic bodies, fraternal orders and more” (Baskin). Although the celebrations took place during the Great Depression, lavish and elaborate events were still planned. Grand parades and birthday balls were held across the country, many of which played colonial music and required dress in historic costume. There were also numerous educational components to the nine-month-long celebration. Theaters throughout the country showed an informative film, “Washington: The Man and the Capitol,” to educate Americans about the first president’s leadership. Students studied materials provided by the “Education Division” of the Bicentennial Commission, which were distributed nationwide to schools for free. The literature’s aim was to educate, as well as debunk overly flattering myths about the president. The Commission presented Washington not only as a great leader but also as a fallible man, persevering through moments of self-doubt and uncertainty. As expected, the nation was swept up in a surge of patriotism and “George Washington fever,” which inspired printers, publishers, and manufacturers to produce as much Washington-related material as possible. New biographies exploring all aspects of Washington’s life were published. Inexpensive engravings and lithographs depicting George Washington were printed and sold to the public. And small printed flags and hand-held fans were made to wave during public parades and celebrations. Condition: Very good condition. Printed flag. Flag is hemmed with a white thread, in a running stitch. Flag attached to stick with two nails. Light discoloration of fabric at nail heads. Original gold finial at top of stick. Dimensions: 4" H x 5 1/2" W (flag), 12 1/2" H (stick). Presented mounted to a dark navy archival fabric. Flag’s stick...

This is a printed silk handkerchief from the interwar period, with an Italian aviation theme. This handkerchief features four early aircraft plane models, two of which are seaplanes. The inner field of the handkerchief is pale blue and contained by a black three-line waving border. The outer field is medium blue, with a darker blue at each corner. A white and black fasces rests in each corner. The center of the silk features a golden spread-wing eagle. Above the eagle’s head floats a gold crown. The eagle’s talons grip a shield printed with the Savoy arms, a white cross on a red field. Two gold fasces adorn either side of the shield. In most historical accounts of the early days of military aviation, our reverence for the activities of the American Expeditionary Force and its French and British companions-in-arms on the western front has led us to overlook the immense Italian contribution to the formation of airpower doctrine. The first aerial force projection occurred on Nov. 1, 1911, when Lt. Giulio Gravotta, flying a German-built monoplane, dropped one bomb on Zard and another on Taciura -- in Libya -- during the Italian-Turkish War. This event occurred just a little more than a year after the first flight of an Italian-designed and built aircraft. At about the same time, Gianni Caproni, a young Italian engineer with a passion for innovation and a vast admiration for the Wright brothers, built his first flying machine. By May 23, 1915, the day Italy entered World War I, Caproni had become Italy's leading aircraft designer and manufacturer. Caprooni designed and built a multi-engine bomber with range and bomb capacities to make it a potent offensive weapon. On Aug. 20, 1915, two of these Caproni three-engine bombers attacked the Aisovizza aerodrome with explosive and incendiary bombs, a preview of the most sustained, effective air offensive of the First World War. By early 1916, regular raids against Austro-Hungarian targets were being conducted by seven squadrons of Caproni bombers, with some 540 bombing missions flown by the year's end. Missions were on the increase, both in distance to targets and number of aircraft involved. In late 1917, due to the lack of suitable training facilities in the United States, a contingent of some 500 Americans were sent to Foggia, Italy, to learn military flying. After completing their training, the new pilots were commissioned in the Army Air Service, and the majority of them were sent to France to serve with the American Expeditionary Force. About 75 remained in Italy under the command of Capt. Fiorello LaGuardia...

Richard Nixon Library, Signed by Nixon, Easton Press Limited edition Seven Volume set, 1993 Nixon, Richard. Richard Nixon Library. Norwalk: The Easton ...

In 1890 William Richardson, G. A. Meacham, and other Freemasons, at St. Louis, Mo., organized a secret society having sociability and recreation for...

Presented is a handsome bust depicting Abraham Lincoln, after Leo Cherne. The bust is cast in dark patinated plaster and mounted on a square black wood base...

Oversized colorful framed banner painted on oilcloth advocating abstinence from the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. "The Temperance Movement was a ...

About This is an original fabric large American flag with 48 hand sewn stars and metal grommets to hang it. The flag has retained its original color with some structural damage an...

Patriotic "E Pluribus Unum" Silk and Metallic Embroidered Souvenir of Eagle with 4 Flags, circa 1901 Presented is a patriotic silk floss and metallic thread embroidered souvenir, circa 1909. The banner has a blue silk field, with "E Pluribus Unum" embroidered in red thread on a gold bannerette above an American eagle with a U.S. Shield and a panoply of American flags. This embroidered banner was most likely made in Japan, to celebrate the visiting U.S. Navy men of the Great White Fleet...