This costume used by Thomas Nast was found in the property storage room at Harper Brothers Publishing Company in N.Y.C. in a wooden crate labeled "Thomas Nast Uncle Sam". The crate and contents were removed from that location in 1896 by Joseph Wesley Harper, son of Charles Harper. They remsined in his personal collection until 1932 when Cheston Kayser aquired them from him. They were then purchaced from Kayser by Gerald E. Czulewicz in 1974. The costume is accompanied by a notorized letter of authenticity with provenience by Mr. Czulewicz. Nast is the American artsit that made Uncle Sam one of America's most iconic patriotic symbols in the middle to later 19th century with his artwork of him published in America's foremost periodical of the time, Harper's Weekly. This costume is the only known one that is cvconnected to Nast and therefore a truly important piece of Hisoric American, worth of any Museum or privste collection of Americana. The costume includes, jacket, top hat, vest, pants and sash with the liner of the jacket labeled in 19th century ink "Th. Nast/Harper's Pub./New York" with embroidered stars on cuffs and collar and on vest. size is for a circa 5 1/2' gentleman of medium build. All housed in a metal crate with mailing label from the C.M. Russel Museum, Great Falls, Montana, to which it was appaerently loaned by Mr. Czulewicz. This lot sold for $10,350 at a New England auction house in 2001 and a copy of the article about the auction is included.

Very Good, some minor wear and slight soil.