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president van buren, book illustrations

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The North Bend farmer and his visitors

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

Fording Salt River. Book illustration from Library of Congress

Fording Salt River. Book illustration from Library of Congress

An election-year satire favoring Free Soil candidate Martin Van Buren in the 1848 presidential contest. A long-legged John Van Buren carries his father piggyback through Salt River, heading toward the White Ho... More

Set-to between the champion old tip & the swell Dutcheman of Kinderhook -- 1836

Set-to between the champion old tip & the swell Dutcheman of Kinderhoo...

Satire on the presidential campaign of 1836, portraying the contest as a boxing match between Democratic candidate Martin Van Buren and Whig candidate William Henry Harrison. The artist clearly favors Harrison.... More

Going the whole hog - Public domain book illustration

Going the whole hog - Public domain book illustration

Martin Van Buren's New York political favorites are represented as piglets suckled by a giant sow "The Empire State." The artist's pointed reference is to the exploitation of New York State by the President and... More

Sold for want of use - Public domain book illustration, Library of Congress

Sold for want of use - Public domain book illustration, Library of Con...

Bucholzer again uses animal characterizations to poke fun at the respective faults of prominent Democrats in the 1844 presidential race. In an interior, Whig nominee Henry Clay conducts a livestock auction, off... More

"Let every one take care of himself" (As the Jack ass said when he was dancing among the chickens)

"Let every one take care of himself" (As the Jack ass said when he was...

A satire attacking Andrew Jackson's plan to distribute treasury funds, formerly kept in the Bank of the United States, among "branch banks" in various states. The artist also alleges Vice-President Van Buren's ... More

All the West going for Matty - Public domain book illustration, Library of Congress

All the West going for Matty - Public domain book illustration, Librar...

A Whig cartoon spoofing Democratic claims of Western support for Van Buren during the election of 1840. Pursued by animals from the "Alleghany Mountains" and the Mississippi River, including among others a buf... More

The fox hunt. Book illustration from Library of Congress

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

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

Patent balancing by an amateur - Public domain book illustration, Libr...

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

"This is the house that Jack built . . ."

"This is the house that Jack built . . ."

Caricature shows Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, Francis Blair, William J. Duane, and others, with various animals. A crudely-drawn, anonymous satire on the Jackson Administration, alleging political intrigue... More

Disturbing a martin's nest - Public domain portrait painting

Disturbing a martin's nest - Public domain portrait painting

A satire on the Van Buren administration's involvement in New York State politics. Although the precise context of the cartoon is unclear, specific reference is made to Van Buren's alliance with postmaster gene... More

Going up Salt River - Public domain book illustration, Library of Congress

Going up Salt River - Public domain book illustration, Library of Cong...

Political cartoons friendly to Van Buren were the rare exception during the 1840 campaign. Here the artist parodies the exploitation by Whig politicians of populist candidate William Henry Harrison. Martin Van ... More

6 cents. Humbug glory bank - Public domain book illustration, Library of Congress

6 cents. Humbug glory bank - Public domain book illustration, Library ...

Another mock bank note parodying the "shinplasters" of the 1837 panic. Such small-denomination notes were based on the division of the Spanish dollar, the dominant specie of the time. Hence they were issued in ... More

New edition of MacBeth. Bank-oh's! Ghost

New edition of MacBeth. Bank-oh's! Ghost

Another satire on the Panic of 1837, again condemning Van Buren's continuation of predecessor Andrew Jackson's hard-money policies as the source of the crisis. Clay shows the president haunted by the ghost of C... More

Matty's dream. Book illustration from Library of Congress

Matty's dream. Book illustration from Library of Congress

Clay portrays Martin Van Buren driven from the White House by nightmares of cider barrels and Whig presidential challenger William Henry Harrison. Van Buren flees the presidential mansion in his nightshirt, dro... More

Caucus on the Surplus Bill - Public domain book illustration, Library of Congress

Caucus on the Surplus Bill - Public domain book illustration, Library ...

A derisive view of Andrew Jackson's reluctant, politically-minded endorsement of the Distribution Act, or "Surplus Bill," a measure authorizing distribution of surplus federal funds among the states. Facing the... More

The rats leaving a falling house

The rats leaving a falling house

A simpler and less animated composition on the same general idea as Edward W. Clay's ".00001" (no. 1831-1). Again Jackson is seated in a collapsing chair, with the "Altar of Reform" toppling next to him, and ra... More

Loco Foco expresses, arriving at Washington

Loco Foco expresses, arriving at Washington

A satiric commentary on the effects of the landslide Whig victory in New York state elections in the autumn of 1838. President Van Buren (left) greets two of his defeated allies: incumbent governor William L. M... More

.00001 the value of a unit with four cyphers going before it

.00001 the value of a unit with four cyphers going before it

A satire on dissension and political intrigue within Andrew Jackson's administration, surrounding the Spring 1831 resignations of several members of his Cabinet. In the center Jackson sits in a collapsing chair... More

The almighty lever. Book illustration from Library of Congress

The almighty lever. Book illustration from Library of Congress

E. W. Clay's apocalyptic allegory has public opinion as a giant lever, tilting decisively in favor of the Whigs late in the presidential campaign of 1840. In a symbolic landscape masses of people climb onto the... More

M. Van Buren, President of the United States

M. Van Buren, President of the United States

Print shows Martin Van Buren, half-length portrait, facing front; includes facsimile signature. 94 U.S. Copyright Office. Signed on stone. Printed at bottom: Published in the City of Washington. Publication da... More

Caucus on the Surplus Bill - Public domain book illustration, Library of Congress

Caucus on the Surplus Bill - Public domain book illustration, Library ...

A derisive view of Andrew Jackson's reluctant, politically-minded endorsement of the Distribution Act, or "Surplus Bill," a measure authorizing distribution of surplus federal funds among the states. Facing the... More

Jinnoowine [i.e. "genuine"] Johnson ticket. "Carrying the war into Africa"

Jinnoowine [i.e. "genuine"] Johnson ticket. "Carrying the war into Afr...

An illustrated election ticket for the presidential campaign of 1836. Oddly, the ticket lists Ohio's Democratic electors for Van Buren while making a vicious and obscene slur on the wife of his running-mate Ri... More

The trap sprung! The kinderhook fox caught!

The trap sprung! The kinderhook fox caught!

A parody of Democratic efforts to reelect incumbent Martin Van Buren in the face of broad popular support for Whig candidate William Henry Harrison. The print is a crude woodcut evidently based on Napoleon Saro... More

Troubled treasures. Book illustration from Library of Congress

Troubled treasures. Book illustration from Library of Congress

A crudely drawn anti-Jackson satire, applauding Henry Clay's orchestration of Congressional resistance to the President's plan to withdraw Treasury funds from the Bank of the United States. The print also attac... More

The experiment in full operation, Political Cartoon

The experiment in full operation, Political Cartoon

An anti-Jackson satire, critical of the President's federal treasury policy and of Vice-President Van Buren's influence on the administration's fiscal program. The print specifically attacks Jackson's plan to d... More

General Jackson slaying the many headed monster

General Jackson slaying the many headed monster

A satire on Andrew Jackson's campaign to destroy the Bank of the United States and its support among state banks. Jackson, Martin Van Buren, and Jack Downing struggle against a snake with heads representing the... More

Machines for the new pay-tent office

Machines for the new pay-tent office

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1838, by H.R. Robinson, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York. Printed & published by H.R. Rob... More

Political cock fighters. Book illustration from Library of Congress

Political cock fighters. Book illustration from Library of Congress

A figurative portrayal of the 1844 presidential contest as a cock-fight, in which Whig candidate Henry Clay prevails. Clay and Democratic opponent Polk battle in a pit or ring as several prominent political fi... More

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

"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 rebound of the ball - Public domain book illustration

The rebound of the ball - Public domain book illustration

A satire on the Democrats' defeat in the fall New York state elections, here viewed as a referendum on Van Buren's independent treasury, or "Sub-treasury" system. A large ball labeled "Sub Treasury" is pushed d... More

Settin' on a rail - Public domain book illustration, Library of Congress

Settin' on a rail - Public domain book illustration, Library of Congre...

A satire, probably issued during August or September 1837, on the tug-of-war for influence on the President between Jacksonian Democrats and the "soft money" or conservative elements of the party. Here the arti... More

A dialogue between two well known characters

A dialogue between two well known characters

Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1837, by H.R. Robinson, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States of the Southern District of New York. Printed & published by H.R. Robins... More

Matty's perilous situation up Salt River

Matty's perilous situation up Salt River

A pro-Whig satire on the presidential campaign of 1840. Martin Van Buren is neck-deep in the waters of "Salt River," a colloquial term for political misfortune or failure. He sinks under the weight of boxes m... More

Old Jack in the last agony and the fox caught in a rat trap

Old Jack in the last agony and the fox caught in a rat trap

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1837, by H.R. Robinson, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, of the Southern District of New York. Printed & published by H.R. Robi... More

[Political cartoon showing Webster, Harrison, White, and Van Buren riding hogs; below is Democratic ticket of Van Buren and Johnson and Ohio Electors - 1836]

[Political cartoon showing Webster, Harrison, White, and Van Buren rid...

Photoprint of engraving. Appears to be a detail of broadside sheet reproduced in LC-USZ61-1654. This record contains unverified, old data from caption card, with subsequent revisions. Caption card tracings: Pol... More

Cleansing the Augean stable - Public domain book scan / drawing

Cleansing the Augean stable - Public domain book scan / drawing

A pro-Whig satire, envisioning the cleansing of the "Augean Stable" of government corruption by presidential candidate Henry Clay and other Whigs. The title derives from one of the twelve mythical labors of Her... More

Democratic ticket. Going the whole hog

Democratic ticket. Going the whole hog

An illustrated election ticket for Martin Van Buren and Richard M. Johnson, listing Ohio Democratic electors for the presidential race of 1836. The ticket is illustrated with a small vignette of a man carrying ... More

Polk & Co. Going up Salt River - Public domain book illustration, Library of Congress

Polk & Co. Going up Salt River - Public domain book illustration, Libr...

The artist foresees a Democratic defeat in the 1844 presidential election. Party figures Martin Van Buren, Thomas Hart Benton, vice-presidential candidate George M. Dallas, Andrew Jackson, and presidential nomi... More

Loco Foco and nulification nuptials, Political Cartoon

Loco Foco and nulification nuptials, Political Cartoon

A satire on the surprising alliance, forged early in the presidential campaign of 1840, between the Van Buren administration and southern or "nullification" Whigs in the circle of John Calhoun. At left editor ... More

The mountain in labor - Public domain book illustration, Library of Congress

The mountain in labor - Public domain book illustration, Library of Co...

The artist employs Aesop's fable about the mountain which was said to be in labor, its dreadful groans attracting expectant crowds only to be disappointed when it issued forth a small mouse. Here the mountain i... More

The political barbecue. Book illustration from Library of Congress

The political barbecue. Book illustration from Library of Congress

Andrew Jackson is roasted over the fires of "Public Opinion" by the figure of Justice in a cartoon relating to the controversy surrounding Jackson's removal of federal deposits from the Bank of the United State... More

Sub-treasury system, or Office holders elysium

Sub-treasury system, or Office holders elysium

Printed & published by H.R. Robinson, 52 Cortlandt St., 11 1/2 Wall Street. & 38 Chatham Strt. N.Y. Title appears as it is written on the item. Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)

The little magician invoked - Public domain book scan / drawing

The little magician invoked - Public domain book scan / drawing

Martin Van Buren, known as "the Little Magician" for his remarkable political agility, summons spirits to divine the Democratic or "Loco Foco" prospects for election in 1844. He sits in an astrological circle, ... More

The ship of state on a lee shore, experienced  hands coming to her rescue

The ship of state on a lee shore, experienced hands coming to her res...

The artist forecasts a Whig electoral victory and dramatizes the politically ruinous effects of Van Buren's fiscal policy and his alignment with Loco Foco forces in New York. Whig candidate William Henry Harri... More

Rats quitting the ship - Public domain book illustration, Library of Congress

Rats quitting the ship - Public domain book illustration, Library of C...

Postmaster general Amos Kendall's 1840 resignation prompted the artist's speculation on the desertion of other Van Buren cabinet members. Kendall resigned on May 16, to concentrate on editing the "Extra Globe,"... More

The candidate of many parties. A phrenological examination to ascertain what his political principles are

The candidate of many parties. A phrenological examination to ascertai...

Whig nominee Zachary Taylor's reluctance to clearly declare his political views was an issue eagerly exploited by the opposition in the 1848 campaign. Here the artist shows phrenologist Orson S. Fowler probing... More

A rainy day / A.C. Van Buren. - Public domain portrait print

A rainy day / A.C. Van Buren. - Public domain portrait print

Photograph shows a woman, possibly Amelia Van Buren, wearing a coat and hat, seated in a chair, holding an umbrella.

"Sober second thought". Book illustration from Library of Congress

"Sober second thought". Book illustration from Library of Congress

Another of HD's portrayals of the New York tradesman's "sober second thoughts" about his support of Democratic hard-money fiscal policies. (See also "Specie Claws," no. 1838-14.) Both prints touch upon the the ... More

The little magician & the modern witch of Endor

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