1st item: The New Hampshire Journal, Oct. 20 1828, newspaper with a "Coffin Handbill" presidential campaign broadside attacking Andrew Jackson on the front page. 4 pp. Note: The Presidential campaign of 1828 between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson was one of the most vicious in American history, with character assaults on both sides. This woodcut broadside, one of a series issued by editor and publisher John Binns of Philadelphia, charged "The Hero of the Battle of New Orleans" with what the Adams campaign considered an unjust action during the War of 1812. Jackson had let stand a decision to execute six Tennessee militiamen who left their unit near Mobile. Their defense argued that the men had left their unit under the mistaken belief that their enlistments had expired, only to return after realizing their error. They were, however, found guilty and executed, with Jackson refusing to intervene. (Ref. William C. Cook, "The Coffin Handbills-America's First Smear Campaign", Imprint, vol. 27, no. 1, Spring 2002, pp. 23-37).

2nd item: Related hand colored political cartoon, "the Pedlar and his Pack", 1828, a satire on the "coffin handbill" campaign initiated by John Binns (caricatured here with Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, and a series of coffins on his back). 17" x 11 1/2".

PROVENANCE: Estate of Gertude S. Caldwell, Nashville.

Newspaper: toning and fading, some dark creases, areas of loss to top edge of front page, 1" area of loss to center along crease, 1/4" hole upper left, scattered small tears, some possible repairs. "Pedlar and his Pack" has 5 tears extending into image with some old tape residue and 3 small holes including 2 in the title line.