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Declaration of the Anti-Slavery Convention. Assembled in Philadelphia, December 4, 1833

The broadside declaration is illustrated with a headpiece of Hercules strangling the Nemean lion as two astonished elders look on. Beneath the woodcut is the line, "Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; the More

The people putting responsibility to the test or the downfall of the kitchen cabinet and collar presses

A prediction of dire consequences to follow from Jackson's withdrawal of federal funds from the Bank of the United States, initiated late in 1833. The artist is harshly critical of Jackson's move to distribute More

New method of assorting the mail, as practised by Southern slave-holders, or attack on the Post Office, Charleston, S.C.

A portrayal of the nocturnal raid on the Charleston post office by a mob of citizens and the burning of abolitionist mails found there in July 1835. Mail sacks are handed through a forced window of the ransack More

Southern ideas of liberty - Political cartoon, public domain image

An imaginative portrayal of the violent suppression of abolitionist propagandizing and insurrectionism in the South. The print may have been stimulated by several instances during the early 1830s of hanging, ta More

Abolition frowned down. Book illustration from Library of Congress

A satire on enforcement of the "gag-rule" in the House of Representatives, prohibiting discussion of the question of slavery. Growing antislavery sentiment in the North coincided with increased resentment by so More

The Secretary of War presenting a stand of colours to the 1st Regiment of Republican bloodhounds

A bitter vilification of the Van Buren administration's use of bloodhounds to hunt fugitive Indians during the Second Seminole War in Florida. The artist condemns the racism and inhumanity of the measure, as w More

The North Bend farmer and his visitors

A slanderous portrayal of Democratic tactics against Whig presidential candidate William Henry Harrison. The supposedly insidious and high-living Van Buren and his minions suffer by comparison to the Whig cand More

Exeter Hall, the great anti-slavery meeting, 1841 / T.H. Shepherd [delineator] ; H. Melville [printmaker].

Print shows interior of Exeter Hall filled with a large crowd for the Anti-slavery Society meeting, London, England. Le grande salle d'Exeter-Hall assemblie des amis des noirs : Die so-gennante Exeter-Halle ve More

American sympathy and Irish backguardism, Political Cartoon

A critical look at Irish Repeal movement leader Daniel O'Connell's condemnation of slavery in the United States. Clay portrays O'Connell's agitation against slavery as an affront to American friends of repeal, More

Race between Bennett and Greely for the Post Office stakes

A satire on the competition between rival editors Horace Greeley and James Gordon Bennett for New York post office printing contracts. The artist also comments on the circulation wars between Bennett's "New Yor More

Anti annexation procession. Book illustration from Library of Congress

A cynical look at the opposition to American annexation of Texas during the 1844 campaign. At the head of a motley procession is Whig candidate and professed anti-annexationist Henry Clay, riding a raccoon (wh More

Sale of dogs - Political cartoon, public domain image

Seeking a middle course between the issues of the annexation of Texas on one hand and abolitionism on the other, Van Buren lost the support of southern Democrats, including elderly statesman Andrew Jackson. Her More

Texas coming in. Book illustration from Library of Congress

A pro-Democrat cartoon forecasting the collapse of Whig opposition to the annexation of Texas. James K. Polk, the expansionist candidate, stands at right near a bridge spanning "Salt River." He holds an America More

Virtuous Harry, or set a thief to catch a thief!

A satire on the Whig party's anti-annexation platform. The question of whether or not to annex Texas was a large issue separating candidates in the 1844 campaign. Annexation's serious implications for the futur More

The Massachusetts hoar, outwitted, or hopping-John, and Johnny-cake, for cod fish 'notions,' wide awake!!!

An imaginative but puzzling commentary on sectional tensions over slavery between New England abolitionists and southern agrarian slaveholders. In his sweeping satire the artist also portrays a considerable hos More

The four traitors, who most infamously sold themselves to the Dorrites for office and political power

An illustrated broadside reviling four Rhode Island Whigs who broke party ranks to support a popular movement to free imprisoned radical Thomas Wilson Dorr. (On the Dorr Rebellion see also "Trouble in the Spart More

The little magician & the modern witch of Endor

Another satire on Van Buren's alliance with extremists, here personified by radical abolitionist Abby Folsom. Van Buren's emergence as candidate of the Free Soil party in the 1848 presidential race was viewed a More

The telegraphic candidates - Steam locomotive, Public domain image

In a race between the railroad and the telegraph the "telegraphic candidates," Lewis Cass and William O. Butler, are first to the White House. The artist ridicules Zachary Taylor for his hazy stance on major ca More

Who says gas? Or the Democratic b-hoy

A pro-Democrat satire, pitting Democratic candidate Lewis Cass against Whig nominee Zachary Taylor in a bout for the presidency. Cass (center) is the obvious favorite. He wears the stovepipe hat, boots, bold pl More

The fox hunt. Book illustration from Library of Congress

Again Van Buren's flirtation with radical interests is portrayed as his downfall. As in "The Modern Colossus" (no. 1848-56) antislavery activist Abby Folsom (here "Abby Fulsome") is prominently featured. Here s More

The liberty chariot - Political cartoon, public domain image

A burlesque triumphal procession representing victory for the Democratic platform in the election of 1848. In a chariot drawn by Democrats Lewis Cass and William O. Butler (shown as two horses), Uncle Sam drive More

Patent balancing by an amateur - Public domain book illustration, Library of Congress

New York "Tribune" editor Horace Greeley is ridiculed for vacillating between support of candidates Martin Van Buren and Zachary Taylor in the presidential election of 1848. Greeley balances precariously on a t More

The hurly-burly pot - Public domain book illustration, Library of Congress

The artist attacks abolitionist, Free Soil, and other sectionalist interests of 1850 as dangers to the Union. He singles out for indictment radical abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, Pennsylvania Free Soil ad More

Philanthropic Consolations, after the loss of the Slave-Bill

William Wilberforce and Samuel Horsley, Bishop of Rochester, cavort with two black women in a well-furnished room. Wilberforce and a woman, wearing a print dress with her breasts exposed, sit on a couch smoking More

The blessings of liberty or how to "hook" a "gentleman of color"

A diverse group of abolitionists try to drag an unwilling black man toward the left with a large gaff hook. Holding the hook are (left to right) an old hag, a Quaker man, and two other homely men. The hag dec More

What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander

The opposition of Northern abolitionists, churchmen, and political figures to enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 is criticized in this rare pro-Southern cartoon. In two panels artist Edward Williams More

Pilgrims of the Rhine-O! - Political cartoon, public domain image

Whig presidential candidate Winfield Scott and his party pursue an abolitionist course leading toward Salt River and political doom. New York senator and antislavery advocate William Seward appears as a poodle More

Eclipse & no eclipse or two views of one object

Two scenes showing the differing perceptions of Franklin Pierce's stand on the issue of slavery, as viewed by the North and South. The cartoon is divided vertically by "Mason & Dixon's Line." An arrow identifie More

The "mustang" team - A cartoon of a horse pulling a cart with people on it

The abolitionist Republican presidential ticket and its supporters in the press are the targets of the cartoon. Candidate Fremont, wearing an emigrant's smock and carrying a cross (an allusion to his rumored Ca More

Forcing slavery down the throat of a freesoiler

The artist lays on the Democrats the major blame for violence perpetrated against antislavery settlers in Kansas in the wake of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Here a bearded "freesoiler" has been bound to the "Democr More

Liberty, the fair maid of Kansas--in the hands of the "border ruffians"

A bitter indictment of the Democratic administration's responsibility for violence and bloodshed in Kansas in the wake of the 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act. (See also "Forcing Slavery Down the Throat of a Freesoiler More

Ho! For the Kansas plains - Public domain engraving

An illustrated sheet music cover for an antislavery song, dedicated to abolitionist spokesman Henry Ward Beecher. The illustration features a roundel illustration of the burning of the Free State Hotel in Lawre More

The buck chase of 1856 - Political cartoon, public domain image

Democratic candidate James Buchanan, as a buck deer, crosses the finish line of a racecourse ahead of competitors Millard Fillmore and John C. Fremont. Spectators cheer in the stands behind. Fillmore appears a More

Old John Brown's career illustrated

Print shows five vignettes from the violent life of abolitionist John Brown, three related to "doing his Kansas work" and the fourth "commencing his Virginia work"; the fifth vignette, at center, labeled "The t More

The grave of the union. 19th century, Library of Congress collection

Public domain image related to President Abraham Lincoln, gelatin silver print, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Political caricature. No. 3, The abolition catastrophe. Or the November smash-up

Lincoln's support of abolition is portrayed here as a liability in his race to the White House against Democratic candidate George B. McClellan. At top a smoothly run train "Union" heads straight for the White More

Northern coat of arms - Political cartoon, public domain image

A Northern-produced satire, expressing strongly anti-abolitionist sentiments. A large pair of bare feet, obviously those of a black man, protrude from beneath a Phrygian cap adorned with the word "Liberty," sev More

Key to Powell & Co's. photographs of Abraham Lincoln, Hannibal Hamlin and the Senators and Representatives who voted "aye" on the resolution ... to amend the constitution of the United States so as to prohibit slavery Passed in Senate, April 8, 1864. Passed in House of Representatives, Jan. 31, 1865.

Key to composite photograph with list of names identifying legislators who voted to abolish slavery.

Celebration of the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia by the colored people, in Washington, April 19, 1866 / sketched by F. Dielman.

Large crowd of African Americans celebrating the abolition of slavery in Washington, D.C. Illus. in: Harper's weekly, v. 10, no. 489 (1866 May 12), p. 300. Reference copy in LOT 4422-C. Exhibited: The African A More

Mary Ann Shadd Cary House, 1421 W Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, DC

Significance: Home, from 1881-86, of Mary Ann Shadd Cary (1823-93). Cary is an important figure in African-American history, being the first black newspaperwoman in North America, proponent of women's rights, More

"Get off the track!" A song for emancipation, sung by The Hutchinsons, . . .

An illustrated sheet music cover for an abolitionist song composed by Jesse Hutchinson, Jr. The song is dedicated to antislavery editor Nathaniel Peabody Rogers, "As a mark of esteem for his intrepidity in the More

The fugitive's song - Public domain print

A sheet music cover illustrated with a portrait of prominent black abolitionist Frederick Douglass as a runaway slave. Douglass flees barefoot from two mounted pursuers who appear across the river behind him w More

The Democratic platform - Print, Library of Congress collection

Print shows Democratic presidential candidate James Buchanan lying on the backs of three men on their hands and knees, from left, Senator Thomas Hart Benton identified as "Old Bullion", President Franklin Pierc More