vintage images

How to make the mare/Mayor go - Public domain book illustration, Libra...

Another satire on the 1838 New York mayoral contest, this time suggesting collusion between Whig candidate and incumbent mayor Aaron Clark and conservative Democrat Richard Riker. Here Clark sits on his stalled... More

This is the house that Jack built

The Van Buren administration's record, particularly with regard to the handling of public finances, is condemned as corrupt and a perpetuation of unpopular Jacksonian policies. The artist echoes perennial Whig ... More

[Isaiah Lukens, half-length portrait, facing front]

Possibly by Paul Beck Goddard. Case: variant of Rinhart 271; pressure sensitive label on case "162." Resealed W.F. Stapp, NPG/Smithsonian 8/5/83. Purchase; Marian S. Carson; 1996; (DLC/PP-1996:087.24). Forms pa... More

A peep at the future - Public domain book illustration, Library of Con...

A Whig fantasy on the supposed outcome of the 1844 election. Here Henry Clay and Theodore Frelinghuysen occupy the White House. They watch from a window as John Tyler plays a hand organ and leads a group of mi... More

[Unidentified man, about 30 years of age, head-and-shoulders portrait,...

Scratched on back of plate: 189; 295. Corners rounded. Possibly a portrait of John Bigelow based on similarity to image LC-BH82- 4625 in Brady-Handy Photograph Collection (Source: Owen Blevins 4/2017). Transfer... More

[Henry Grinnell, head-and-shoulders portrait, profile to the left]

Merchant; backer of polar expeditions; first President of the American Geographical Society.

[Unidentified man, about 50 years of age, head-and-shoulders portrait,...

Scratched on back of plate: 259. Corners trimmed. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Congress). Produced by Mathew Brady's studio.

Treeing coons - Political cartoon, public domain image

One of the few satires sympathetic to the Democrats to appear during the 1844 presidential contest. Democratic presidential nominee James Polk is portrayed as a buckskinned hunter who has treed "coons" Henry Cl... More

Mr. Golightly, bound to California, Political Cartoon

Caricature of man riding on rocket with items to sell to gold miners. Copyright by A. Donnely. Landauer Collection of Aeronautical Prints and Drawings.

Terrible rout & total destruction of the Whig Party. In Salt River

The 1852 Democratic victory under the standard of Franklin Pierce is foreseen as a debacle for the Whig party, led by Winfield Scott. Pierce (center) sits on his horse, holding aloft a banner bearing his and ru... More

Letting the last "Democratic drop", Political Cartoon

The only obvious portrait in this crudely drawn satire is that of Republican candidate John C. Fremont (right). An emaciated man (center) sits in a chair near an open window. He is apparently James Buchanan, a... More

[Benjamin Harrison or a senator named C. D.]

"C.D" on button of shirt. Title devised by cataloger. Title on shelflist card: Benjamin Harrison. Portrait of C.D. No publication information. (DLC/PP-1934:0123). Forms part of: Cabinet of American illustratio... More

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, 19th centu...

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, free to use, no copyright restrictions

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, 19th centu...

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, free to use, no copyright restrictions

A surprise to themselves / Gillam., Political Cartoon

Illustration shows, at center, a Mahdi soldier and a Chinese soldier gloating over recent victories; on the left the British army is routed by Mahdi forces in the Sudan, and on the right, the French army is rou... More

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, 19th centu...

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, free to use, no copyright restrictions

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, 19th centu...

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, free to use, no copyright restrictions

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, 19th centu...

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, free to use, no copyright restrictions

"The people wanted a change, and they got it" - Benj. Harrison But the...

Print shows, on the left, Grover Cleveland tipping his hat as he leaves office in 1889, after passing the key to a large safe labeled "U.S. Treasury" with a "Surplus $100,000,000 Dollars" to incoming president ... More

A dead failure so far / Dalrymple.

Print shows William McKinley as Napoleon I, looking dejected, sitting on cannon barrels labeled "Jingoism, Paternalism, [and] McKinleyism", behind him is Thomas Reed firing a cannon labeled "Calamity Cry" with ... More

The wail of the Jingos / Dalrymple. Joseph Pulitzer

Print shows "The United Order of Jingoes", comprised of newspaper editors and legislators identified as "Dana, Pulitzer, Reed, Frye, Reid, Lodge, Allison, Boutelle, [and] Hoar", sitting outside the White House ... More

On the presidential golf links / Dalrymple.

Print shows David B. Hill as a golfer trying to play a tough lie, his club, labeled "Peanut Politics" is broken, his ball labeled "Presidential Hopes" is in a hole, and the flag is at the top of a hill with thr... More

"The right man in the right place" / F.M.H.

Print shows Stephen B. Elkins walking down an aisle in the "U.S. Senate", holding a "Certificate of Election to U.S. Senate - Stephen B. Elkins"; seated on the left are "Teller - Senator on Cash Basis" and "Smi... More

Poor paterfamilias - the family rises and he has to pay the freight / ...

Print shows a vignette cartoon where the father of an upwardly mobile family is forced to keep pace financially with his wife's ambitions; the main vignette shows the father perspiring as he works harder, using... More

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, 19th centu...

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, free to use, no copyright restrictions

Why peace reigns / Keppler. - Political cartoon, public domain image

Print shows Uncle Sam leaning over a wall labeled "$50,000,000 For National Defense" and fashioned from money bags labeled with "$"; a tattered diminutive man, possibly representing Spain, sits on a rock on the... More

Caricature, The rough riders / Keppler., public domain cartoon image

Print shows Theodore Roosevelt leading the Rough Riders into battle against the Spanish in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. Caption: They are rough on the Spaniards, whether they ride or walk. Illus. from... More

Deserting the old idol / Dalrymple., Political Cartoon

Print shows William Jennings Bryan kneeling on steps labeled "Socialism, Inflation, [and] Paternalism" with his back to a statue of an old man labeled "Populism" sitting in a chair labeled "Free Silver" that is... More

A natural inference / Frank A. Nankivell '99.

Lord Slapbang shaking hands with and saying to Richard "Boss" Croker: "I am proud to shake the hand of one of America's uncrowned kings!" Richard Croker thinking to himself: "One! I wonder if he thinks there ar... More

Disappointment / Keppler. - Political cartoon, public domain image

Print shows Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, standing on a parapet on a castle, looking down at a massive army gathering beneath dark clouds; a female figure labeled "Peace" is standing behind him, looking conce... More

Modern military tactics; - our major-general and his staff / Keppler.

Print shows General Nelson A. Miles, oversized, sitting at a desk, holding in his left hand a book titled "How to Become President [by] Gen. Miles", around him are many newspaper reporters and photographers, th... More

[Thomas Jefferson, half-length portrait]

Public domain photograph of 19th-century painting, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Cartoon of giant mosquito stinging a man sleeping - Frank G. Carpenter...

Title transcribed from caption accompanying item. Photo by Lomen Bros., Nome. Forms part of: Frank and Frances Carpenter collection (Library of Congress). Gift; Mrs. W. Chapin Huntington; 1951.

Puck magazine cover - Tammany's anti-trust game / Ehrhart.

Illustration showing Richard Croker as a laborer carrying a block of ice labeled "Ice Trust" and a sheet of paper "N.Y Dock privileges"; he cries out, "Stop thief," while himself being pursued by an angry mob o... More

[Don Juan Jose Perez Mora, three-quarter-length portrait]

Public domain photograph of 19th-century painting, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Hail to the victor! / Keppler. - Political cartoon, public domain imag...

Illustration shows the interior of a colosseum with Puck labeled "1900" standing on the legs of a fallen gladiator labeled "1890"; Puck is holding a trident at the aged gladiator's neck while 12 people standing... More

[Woman, three-quarter length portrait]

Public domain scan of portrait art print, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Al dictamen extrangero [i.e., extranjero], Political Cartoon

Cartoon shows a boxing sugar beet "Productores" (Producers) punching a man "Monopolio Refinador Americano" (American Refining Trust) with fists labeled "Teller Investigacion" and "Resolucion Ley de Reciprocida... More

An effective battering ram in the hands of the right men / Kep.

Illustration shows two strong men labeled "Labor" and "Commerce" using a battering ram labeled "Tariff Reform" to knock down a door in a building flying a banner that states "High Protection"; a fightened man l... More

Bill posting - Political cartoon, public domain image

Cartoon shows the back of Francis B. Thurber "Reciprocity Missionary" who has just posted a billboard "Reciprocity on all products only exception sugars lighter than 16 D. S." Behind his back Thurber exchanges ... More

The joys of attempting the impossible / Keppler.

Illustration shows Senator Mark Hanna drawing a life-sized portrait of himself as a Greek or Roman statesman; two men labeled "Capital" and "Labor" stand nearby, in the backgroud is a large monument stating "In... More

The best of friends must part - Political cartoon, public domain image

Cartoon shows former journalist Assistant Postmaster General Robert John Wynne with hat in hand before the New York Press building that also houses "Republicanism," "Protection for Home Industries," "Straight R... More

The last charge / J.S. Pughe. - Political cartoon, public domain image

Illustration shows a battle scene with Theodore Roosevelt about to make a final charge on "Fort Democracy" labeled "Peace, Constitution, [and] Prosperity". Performing various functions in Roosevelt's camp are "... More

The annual invasion / Ehrhart. - Political cartoon, public domain imag...

Illustration shows actors and characters (some in cages), acrobats, and theater props being unloaded from a ship into a dock-side warehouse. Caption: Arrival of the all-star Argonauts in quest of the golden "f... More

He arrives in "San Antone" to attend a reunion of the Rough Riders / M...

Photograph of a cartoon showing Theodore Roosevelt and others running through a street in San Antonio towards a Rough Riders reunion with Rough Riders shooting pistols, Sec. Loeb carrying a case, and members of... More

New Hampshire, Wentworth Hotel, Newcastle

No. 1488. Postcard sent by newspaper correspondent Edmund Noble to his daughter, Beatrice. Text reads: There are between 50 and 100 newspaper men here from all parts of the world. American and English journals... More

At the keyboard / Kep. - Political cartoon, public domain image

Illustration shows Nelson Aldrich and J.D. Rockefeller sitting at a keyboard overlooking Congress in session at the U.S. Capitol; Rockefeller is holding a "Prompt Book" as Aldrich plays the instrument; they are... More

The thick-skin variety / Kep. - Political cartoon, public domain image

Illustration shows the heads of Chauncey M. Depew labeled "Compliments of New York" and Thomas C. Platt labeled "From the Empire State" on desks in the "U.S. Senate" chamber, with Uncle Sam scowling in the background.

The coming of William Jennings Lohengrin / CH [monogram].

Illustration shows a theatrical production with at center William Jennings Bryan in the role of Lohengrin, Knight of the Swan, who has just arrived to the delight of "Miss Democracy", standing on the left, in t... More

The most important thing in the universe / L.M. Glackens.

Illustration shows two Martians, one holding a telescope and yawning, expressing relief now that the election for governor of New York has been decided (in favor of Charles Evans Hughes); in the background, on ... More

White Horse Ledge. Echo Lake, North Conway, N.H., Cathedral Ledge

Postcard shows views of Echo Lake in North Conway, New Hampshire. H93573 U.S. Copyright Office. Copyright by N. Weston Pease, Conway, N.H.

Sunset Lake, Bridgeton, N. J. postcard

Postcard shows people canoeing on lake in Bridgeton, New Jersey. J158276 U.S. Copyright Office. Copyright 1907, E. B. Garrison.

The marathon mania / L.M. Glackens., Political Cartoon

Illustration shows a vignette cartoon depicting a craze for marathon running; one scene shows a consumer shackled to a "Graft Tariff" ball losing a race to a fabricated figure labeled "Cost of Living"; another ... More

What you can do with a few dollars properly invested

(DLC/PP-1933:0112). Forms part of: Cabinet of American illustration (Library of Congress). Published in: Chicago Tribune, Dec. 9, 1910.

"Hurry, William, and hook me up!" / K.

Illustration shows President Taft struggling to dress the Republican elephant in a dress labeled on one side "Reactionaries" and on the other "Insurgents"; he is unable to bring the two sides together in the ba... More

Puck Magazine Illustration - Harris and Ewing, Washington, D.C.

A book with a picture of a man in a bed, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Portraits and news photographs by Washington, D.C.-based firm, showing people, events, architecture in Washington, D.C. ... More

Caricature, He's good enough for me, public domain cartoon image

Photograph of cartoon showing Theodore Roosevelt as Rough Rider patting Theodore Roosevelt as statesman on the back. Illus in: New York World (1912 March 10).

Puck Magazine Illustration - Harris and Ewing, Washington, D.C.

An old book with a picture of a man and a bear, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Portraits and news photographs by Washington, D.C.-based firm, showing people, events, architecture in Washington... More

Puck Magazine Illustration - Harris and Ewing, Washington, D.C.

A book with a picture of a man and a woman in a canoe, Library of Congress Harris and Ewing collection Portraits and news photographs by Washington, D.C.-based firm, showing people, events, architecture in Was... More

Her Johnny-jump-ups / W.E. Hill '13.

Illustration shows a woman with a watering can pouring water on a window box with faces among the foliage instead of flowers. Caption: Spring display in the chorus-girl's window-box. Illus. in: Puck, v. 73, no... More

Monuments of civilization / Keppler., Political Cartoon

Illustration shows at top, Puck holding a paper that states "The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research - Here modern science, aided by Vivisection, is gradually conquering and eradicating human disease" wi... More

Joel Baggs he sez, sez he: Spring's in sight, sumbudy's seen a robin, ...

Half-length caricature of an elderly man holding his hat and smoking a cigar. The man is bald and has a full, bushy beard. No copyright information found with item. Signed, lower left: Clubb 14 / [club logogra... More

Greeting The trail of the lonesome pine / / W.E. Hill '13.

Illustration shows two well dressed men wearing top hats admiring a beautiful young woman wearing a fur-trimmed red shawl and a hat with a small pine bough attached. Includes a lengthly notice "from Puck's new ... More

Heavy gun batteries of the KAISER

Photograph shows reproduction of a postcard showing the German battleship Kaiser. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2014)

Somewhere in Fort Sheridan - Drawing. Public domain image.

(DLC/PP-1933:0112). Forms part of: Cabinet of American illustration (Library of Congress). Published in: Chicago Tribune, May 19, 1917.

The watchword of the hour - Drawing. Public domain image.

(DLC/PP-1933:0112). Forms part of: Cabinet of American illustration (Library of Congress). Published in: Chicago Tribune, April 29, 1918.

Two great questions. "Who is Ingersoll's Co.? - "Who stole the people'...

Illustration shows, at top, Horace Greeley confronting James H. Ingersoll who is standing next to William "Boss" Tweed; at bottom, how the politicians who are members of Tweed's "Tammany Ring", "pass the buck" ... More

G. Uglichʺ - Dvoretsʺ Sv. Tsarevicha Dimitrii︠a︡

Print shows palace of Tsarevich Dmitry in Uglich, Russia, with the Church of St. Demetrios on the Blood behind it. Forms part of: Winokur-Munblit Collection of the Russian Empire Postcards (Library of Congress... More

The self made party : the party that Butler belongs to and the party h...

Title on verso. (DLC/PP-1934:0123). Forms part of: Cabinet of American illustration (Library of Congress). Published in: Harper's weekly, 28:573 (Aug. 30, 1884).

An elopement - Drawing. Public domain image.

Title devised by cataloger. Gift; Mrs. Peter Grant; 1940; (DLC/PP-1940:008). Forms part of: Cabinet of American illustration (Library of Congress). Published in: Life magazine.

[Joseph Avery stranded on rocks in the Niagara River]

Three men boating in the Niagara River were overwhelmed by the river's strong current, lost control of their boat, and crashed into a rock. The current carried two men immediately over the Falls to their deaths... More

The water clock, gelatin silver print

D18297 U.S. Copyright Office. Part of series: Mammoth Cave and Vicinity. No. 11. Copyright by Ben Hains.

[Unidentified man, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]

Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

[Pierre Soulé, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the left]

Democratic Senator from Louisiana, 1847-1853; French liberal exile; political adventurer; U.S. Minister to Spain, 1853-1855. Scratched on face of plate: 43. Scratched on back of plate: 203. Transfer; U.S. War C... More

Postcard from John A. Lomax to Harold Spivacke

Picryl description: Public domain historical photo of the address side of postcard, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.

Original pictorial rough and ready melodies. No. 3, Old Zack Taylor is...

A comic illustrated Whig campaign song sheet, showing Uncle Sam banishing the Democrats from the White House, to make way for Zachary Taylor. The eighteen-stanza song, sung to the tune of "Yankee Doodle," extol... More

[Samuel G. Goodrich, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to th...

Author, editor, publisher, known as Peter Parley. Identification from engraving by Bannister in Memorial History of Hartford County, Conn., 1866, 1:162. Scratched on back of plate: 166. Hallmark: Rinhart 9. DAG... More

Effects of the Fugitive-Slave-Law

An impassioned condemnation of the Fugitive Slave Act passed by Congress in September 1850, which increased federal and free-state responsibility for the recovery of fugitive slaves. The law provided for the ap... More

[John A. Dix, half-length portrait, three-quarters to the left, in civ...

Democratic Senator from New York, 1845-1849; U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, 1861; Governor of New York, 1873-1875. Scratched on back of plate: 102; John A. Dix. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:4... More

[Postcard, 1875 April 26], Wien [to] Herman[n] Levi

Public domain scan of manuscript related to German history, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

[Howell Cobb, half-length portrait, facing front]

Democratic Congressman from Georgia, 1843-1851, 1855-1857; Governor of Georgia, 1851-1853; U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, 1857-1860.

The dinner pail - Drawing. Public domain image.

Public domain reproduction of political cartoon, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

[Unidentified man, possibly William Warner Fiske, head-and-shoulders p...

Photographer unidentified. Hallmark: H.B. [eagle]. Case: double case, variant of Rinhart 139. Scratched on back of plate: W.W.F. Accompanying note: William Warner Fiske, Uncle of H.G.F. Transfer; Manuscript Div... More

The reconciliation between Britania and her daughter America / Pub. by...

Cartoon shows a Native, representing America, with a flag and liberty cap, rushing to the arms of Britannia, who holds a shield inscribed "George for Ever." A Spaniard and a Frenchman combine efforts to pull Am... More

[Thomas Sowerby Hamblin, head-and shoulders portrait, slightly to the ...

Shakespearean actor; manager of the Bowery theater, and of other New York theaters. Identification from an identified engraving published in Odell's Annals of the New York Stage, v. 6, p. 222. Scratched on face... More

[Postcard, 1887 March 1], Wien [to] Robert Keller

J. Br. [Johannes Brahms]. (statement of responsibility) Holograph, signed. An autograph postcard of Johannes Brahms, written to Robert Keller, music editor. Published in: The Brahms-Keller correspondence. Linco... More

[Humorous pictures showing Chinese religious practices (may include Ra...

Signed on block by artist on left, includes chop. Descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print specialists in 2005-06. From the series: Nisshinsensō shōraku gakai : Comics of the Sino-Ja... More

Postcard from Alexander Melville Bell to Alexander Graham Bell, August...

Public domain scan of manuscript related to German history, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Postcard from Mabel Hubbard Bell to Alexander Graham Bell, May 25, 190...

[Joseph Jenkins Roberts, half-length portrait, full face]

Roberts arrived in Liberia in 1829 from Virginia. In 1839 Roberts was appointed Vice Colonial Governor of the Commonwealth of Liberia and took over as Governor of the Commonwealth, in 1841, when Thomas Buchanan... More

[Henry Grinnell, head-and-shoulders portrait, three-quarters to the le...

Merchant; backer of polar expeditions; first President of the American Geographical Society.

[Cornelius Vanderbilt, head-and-shoulders portrait, slightly to left, ...

Financier. Scratched on face of plate: 159. Scratched on back of plate: 58; Cornelius Vanderbilt. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920. (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreotype collection (Library of Congr... More

York town, British Cartoon Print, Political Cartoon

Cartoon shows "America" receiving the surrender of Cornwallis in the background, while an emaciated cow representing "English commerce" is robbed of her milk by France, Spain, and Holland in the left foreground... More

The Chicago platform and candidate, Confederate States of America.

McClellan was branded a hypocrite by many critics who saw his public stance on the war issue as ambiguous and deceptive. Nominated because of his military record, he nevertheless ran on a peace platform, writte... More

[Zachary Taylor, half-length portrait, head in profile to the right]

Twelfth President of the United States; Commander in Mexican War, 1845-1846. Scratched on face of plate: 87 [superscribed over] Sil[as?]; Silas [illegible] Scratched on back of plate: 277. Hallmark: [4]OM? Faci... More

Duluth from Marshall Wells Bldg., Panoramic Photograph

H41170 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright deposit; R. S. Crandall; January 25, 1904. Copyright claimant's address: 15 Lake Ave., Duluth, Minn.

[Panoramic photo of Harvard - Dartmouth football game, Saturday, Nov. ...

H38268 U.S. Copyright Office Copyright deposit; E. Chickering & Co.; November 18, 1903. Title derived from copyright deposit records. On front: "Copyright by E. Chickering & Co., 1903, reproduction forbidden."

Summer amusement--Bugg [sic] hunting / MIC sc.., British Cartoon Print

Old couple catching bedbugs. Forms part of: British Cartoon Prints Collection (Library of Congress).

[Henry Peters Gray, half-length portrait, head three-quarters to left]

Artist. Alternative identifications: Washington Irving; Henry Peter Grey. Scratched on back of plate: 41; H.P. Gray. Hallmark: AB. Transfer; U.S. War College; 1920; (DLC/PP-1920:46153). Forms part of: Daguerreo... More

[Andrew Jackson, head-and-shoulders portrait, nearly in profile to lef...

President of the United States. Public domain photograph of 19th-century daguerreotype portrait, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description