USAmericana Blog

In conjunction with today's new listings, featuring a selection of political neck wear, and the recent occurrence of Father's Day, we present a short history of the evolution of the American political necktie.

Interestingly, the first known American political neckties, which featured jugate images of Harrison and Morton, were made as a "clip on" style, in both a bow tie and standard neck tie variety. I had always assumed that the clip on tie was a recent invention (I used to wear the heck out of them as a kid going to Sunday school in the 80's) but it looks like I might not have been that much of a trendsetter.

The clip-on variety of political necktie continued on into the early 20th Century with these ties featuring printed portraits of TR and Taft on silk. These snazzy specimens of political neck wear feature a button clasp on the back to clip onto the top button of a shirt.

This tie, made for the 1928 Hoover campaign, features bolder colors than the earlier examples, and an embroidered owl to highlight its whimsical "Hoo? Hoo? Hoover" slogan.

The coming years saw some bold advances in the world of the political necktie, as the campaigns of FDR, Willkie, and Landon brought forth innovations in materials and production techniques, including multicolor screen printing and the weaving of Willkie's initials and name into the very fabric of the ties.

The Eisenhower campaign featured seemingly endless varieties of color, pattern, and construction.

The Goldwater campaign of 1964 featured this tie, which, fittingly, was extremely conservative in both width and color.

We hope you enjoyed this brief overview of political neck wear, and this week's new listings.

As a full time dealer in Americana, people often ask me if I am a collector myself. The answer is an emphatic YES. I have found that the same is true for nearly all the dealers who specialize in political and general Americana.

The passion I have for this hobby goes well beyond simply buying and selling. Picking up that special item for my collection – adding that piece that's been on my “wish list” forever – is always a thrill.

My personal collecting interests include items connected with the Lincoln assassination, 19^th century Inauguration invitations and tickets, Democratic and Republican National Convention tickets, pinbacks and ephemera related to Carry Nation and the Prohibition movement, and Uncle Sam.

Items connected with this country's history in the spring of 1865 hold a special fascination for me. Within a turbulent four-month period from early March to early July of 1865, the country witnessed Lincoln's second Inauguration, the end of a bloody civil war, and the assassination of a president at the hands of a conspiracy to cripple the US government, followed by the capture, trial, and hanging of the conspirators. Due to the actions of John Willkes Booth, the feeling of jubilation that had swept over the Union with the impending end of the war quickly turned to despair.

Although generally pricy, there's no lack of material from this period in history. Some of my favorites pieces include a ticket to Ford's Theater from the fateful evening of April 15th, a variety of Lincoln memorial ribbons and paper items, a ticket to the conspirators' trial, various carte de visites of the conspirators, Civil War patriotic ribbons supporting the Union cause, an invitation to the 1865 Inauguration – and the centerpiece, the iconic reward poster with photos of Booth, Surrat and Herold.

In my collection of 19^th century Inauguration invitations and tickets, I am reminded of the relatively peaceful transition of presidential power and the continuation of democratic ideals. It can be an especially challenging task to locate anything from the Inaugurations preceding William Henry Harrison (and I'm always looking to add any pre-1841 tickets or invitations to my collection).

Collecting Democratic and Republican National Convention tickets holds a special interest for me, having attended six such conventions myself. The national political conventions represent the epitome of presidential campaigns and the unique hoopla of our quadrennial American obsession. Most tickets from 1868 to 2012 are readily available (with the exception of tickets for both parties from 1872), but pre-1868 convention tickets are extremely difficult to obtain.

I've always had a special interest in items related to the Prohibition movement, starting with Carry Nation and ending with the repeal of the 18^th amendment. Items from this era of history illustrate the story of how a relatively small group of people with good intentions successfully convinced a nation to enact well-intentioned but misguided legislation. Carry Nation represents one of the most colorful characters among a long list of American nutcases, and putting together a collection of hatchets, pinbacks and paper items celebrating and disparaging Nation's crusade has been enjoyable. My favorite items from the Prohibition movement are undoubtedly those “Vote Dry For My Sake” pinbacks and paper items intended to save America's youth from the “ravages” of alcohol.

Love him or hate him, Uncle Sam memorabilia is almost unlimited in scope. As such, I try to confine my collection to items from World War I and earlier, and buy those pinbacks, posters, 3D peices, and advertising items which feature Uncle Sam that provide an appropriate complimentary display to my political/historical collections.

I suppose that in no small part, my personal passion for collecting Americana is why I've made it my profession. As a collector myself, I find it extremely gratifying to help the items representing America's past find homes where they will be cherished and preserved. When I'm able to facilitate fellow collectors finding the item that has eluded them for years, I'm reminded of how much joy this hobby brings us all.

The dust has settled from our latest auction #24, which closed on April 24. Thanks again to all who participated. Auction #25 is already in the works and is scheduled to close on November 13, 2013.

In the meantime we will continue to offer new listings in our online store every Wednesday morning, and will offer a variety of political, cause, suffrage, and home front material.

I was fortunate to purchase two huge collections last summer, most of which will be offered via our online store. As I walk through our warehouse, I see a massive variety of pinback buttons, tokens and medals, posters, pennants, banners, bandanas, political neckties, paper ephemera, misc. 3D items, an extraordinary collection of FDR clocks, dozens of 19^th century campaign torches, and much more.

So continue to log on to our site – you never know what may turn up.

As always, we will strive to make our online store the best in the business with fresh inventory, fair prices, quick shipment, and unsurpassed customer service.

- Tom French

Thanks to all who participated in Auction #24, which closed last week. We had a record number of bidders and a record number of successful bidders. Most important, the auction process was a smooth one, and we hope all that took part enjoyed their experience. Invoices were emailed and snail-mailed on Monday, April 29th, so all should receive their invoices no later than this Friday or Saturday.

There was particular strength in Goldwater, suffrage, coattails, and, as always, those elusive items which seldom turn up. We – and we hope, you – are looking forward to our next auction which is scheduled to close in November of this year. In the meantime, we will continue to offer new listings every Wednesday on our online store.

We appreciate the positive feedback from our auction and online store and encourage our customers to share their ideas on how we can do better. Our commitment to our customers and to the integrity of our hobby will always come first.

Thanks again!

-Tom French

A great time was had by all at the Nixon Library APIC show & sale last weekend in Yorba Linda. Press for the event paid off, as a steady stream of walk-ins contributed to a great Seattle rules auction. Many turn of the century political and advertising pinbacks found new homes. Probably the most unusual item that walked in was from a Goldwater Girl who brought in a cowboy hat from the 1964 RNC signed by Goldwater, Miller, Ronald Reagan, and a host of Hollywood celebrities.

The staff of the Nixon Library provides a terrific venue. The bourse was held in an exact replica of the White House East Room.

We'd like to extend a sincere thank you to David Holcomb, Wayne Otchis, Jim Fletcher and especially Bob Banwart, whose tireless efforts made this event possible.