Political
1880 Winfield Scott Hancock & William H. English Presidential Campaign Bandana plus Campaign Button
1880 Presidential Campaign Bandana, Winfield Scott Hancock and William H. English Portraits on Cotton, plus Campaign Button, Choice Extremely Fine.
c. 1880, this colorful and Patriotic Presidential Campaign Bandana featuring portraits of the Democratic ticket: Winfield Scott Hancock for President and William H. English for Vice President. Bandana is “Cochrane’s Turkey Red” with white ovals featuring the jugate portraits printed in black. Measures about 18.5” x 21”. Some small holes and tear fraying primarily at the bottom edge, else very bold. Accompanied by a Brass Campaign Button reading “Hancock and English,” about 9/16” in diameter. These pieces date from the election of 1880, which pitted two highly respected former Union Generals against each other, with James A. Garfield emerging victorious and continuing the unbroken chain of Republican presidents since the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. The Democrats, after winning the popular vote but losing the presidency with Samuel Tilden in 1876, had a sporting chance to break the streak, owing to President Hayes' numerous scandals and Hancock's impeccable reputation, yet came up just short in what remains the closest popular vote margin in American history. (2 items).