1861 Winslow Homer Jefferson Davis Harper's Weekly Feb 02 Secessionist Dream
$92.29
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This February 2, 1861, issue of Harper's Weekly is a powerhouse of Civil War history and 19th-century art. Published as the Union was rapidly unraveling, it features a front-page work by Winslow Homer and one of the most famous allegorical centerfolds of the entire era.
Title: 1861 Winslow Homer Jefferson Davis Harper's Weekly Feb 02 Secessionist Dream
📜 ABOUT THIS PIECE OF HISTORY 📜
📜 Winslow Homer’s Mississippi Delegation: The front page is a significant original wood engraving by Winslow Homer titled "The Seceding Mississippi Delegation in Congress." The central figure is Jefferson Davis, just days before he would resign from the U.S. Senate to become the President of the Confederacy. This is a premier "Eve of War" portrait documenting the very men who were dismantling the Union from within the Capitol.
📜 The Dream of a Secessionist: The double-page centerfold is a haunting and dramatic allegorical print titled "Dream of a Secessionist—Washington and Valley Forge." It depicts a sleeping Southerner haunted by the ghost of George Washington and the starving soldiers of the Revolution, serving as a powerful Unionist warning that secession was a betrayal of the Founding Fathers' sacrifices.
🌟 FEATURED HIGHLIGHTS 🌟
🎨 Winslow Homer Artistry:
Front-Page: "The Seceding Mississippi Delegation" — Featuring a rare, contemporary likeness of Jefferson Davis as a U.S. Senator.
⚔️ Strategic Fortifications:
"Sea Battery, Fort Monroe, Old Point Comfort, Va" — A detailed view of "Gibraltar of the Chesapeake," a massive Union stronghold that would remain a thorn in the side of the Confederacy throughout the war.
🏛️ Cultural Landmarks:
The Brooklyn Academy of Music: Two interior scenes of this newly opened cultural jewel, providing a glimpse into Northern social life as the country stood on the brink of war.
🎭 Humorous & Literary Content:
An Evening With Rarey: A series of 9 satirical cartoons on the back page focusing on the famous horse whisperer John Solomon Rarey.
Charles Dickens: This issue continues the original serialization of "Great Expectations," appearing alongside the heavy political news of the day.
🔍 CONDITION & TRANSPARENCY 🔍
Completeness: This is the complete 16-page issue, including the original front page and the dramatic centerfold.
Authenticity: Guaranteed original woodblock printing from February 2, 1861, not a modern reproduction.
Condition Report: I take pictures of the entire sheet so you can study the condition personally. Examine the contrast in the Homer engraving and the sprawling detail of the "Secessionist Dream" centerfold.
🥂 WHY IT IS A MUST-HAVE 🥂
Jefferson Davis Collectors: This is one of the most important issues for collectors of Davis memorabilia, showing him at the exact moment he transitioned from U.S. statesman to Confederate leader.
Winslow Homer Fans: A cornerstone piece of Homer's early career as a political illustrator.
Political Allegory Enthusiasts: The "Secessionist Dream" is widely regarded as one of the most poignant and visually impressive pro-Union political prints of 1861.
Custom Framing: I offer professional framing for any item in my shop. The Homer front page or the "Dream of a Secessionist" centerfold would make a museum-quality historical focal point!
📦 SHIPPING & PRESERVATION 📦
Safe Storage: Housed in an acid-free archival folder with a Mylar overlay to protect the 165-year-old newsprint.
Flat Shipping: Shipped with heavy-duty reinforcement to ensure the issue and its centerfold arrive safely.
Tracked: All orders include tracking for your peace of mind.
🏷️ TAGS (SEO) 🏷️
1861 Harpers Weekly, Winslow Homer Jefferson Davis, Mississippi Secession Delegation, Dream of a Secessionist, Fort Monroe Virginia, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Charles Dickens Great Expectations, February 2 1861.
1861 Winslow Homer Jefferson Davis Harper's Weekly Feb 02 Secessionist Dream
$92.29