Group of 3 Broadsides on the Death of W. H. Harrison

A small archive of three printed documents relating to the death and funeral of President William Henry Harrison. 

Included in this lot:

1) Printed Broadsheet, “Tribute of Respect. Lines, composed on the death of Wm. Henry Harrison, Late President of the United States.” One page, 6.125” x 10.75”, Portland, April 1841. RARE: No copies located in OCLC. Flattened folds with a few very small areas of paper loss, scattered foxing, else near fine condition.

A lengthy tribute containing 20 verses, in part, "Our Chief Magistrate has been called of late / By the bold king of terrors, we hear / When our good people all heard of the sad call / Paid respects to the man they held dear."

2) Newspaper Sheet, “The Portsmouth Journal”, Tuesday Evening, April 6, 1841. One page, 6.875” x 8.5”. Flattened folds with some separation and small areas of paper loss, scattered foxing, else very good plus condition.

A report on the President's condition in the hours before his death, "One o'clock at night. - I have but a moment to say that our good President breathed his last, at half-past twelve o'clock". A circular from the "Heads of the Departments at Washington" reads in part, "The people of the United States, overwhelmed, like ourselves, by an event so unexpected, and so melancholy, will derive consolation from knowing that his death was calm and resigned, as his life has been patriotic, useful, and distinguished; and that the last utterance of his lips expressed a fervent desire for the perpetuity of the Constitution and the preservation of its true principles. In death, as in life, the happiness of his country was uppermost in his thoughts."

3) Printed Broadsheet, “On the Death of Wm. H. Harrison”, a poem by Lydia Ann Crawford. One page, 6.5” x 11.75”, n.p., n.d., with a decorative border and image of the late president at top. RARE: No copies located in OCLC. Folds and creases with small areas of paper loss, staining, toning, tape repair at verso, loss at bottom right corner replaced, else good condition.

A memorial poem containing 10 verses, in part, "Oh doubly mournful is the fate / Which I am called to relate / Of a late President of our land / On whom death laid his icy hand...He was a man loved as he stood / For he was always doing good...He was a man of great renoun / And like a former Washington..."

William Henry Harrison (1773-1841) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 9th President of the United States. Harrison died just 31 days after his inauguration in 1841 and had the shortest presidency in United States history. He was also the first United States president to die in office, and a brief constitutional crisis resulted as presidential succession was not then fully defined in the United States Constitution. Harrison was the paternal grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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