Auction Name: 2026 March 18 The Dan Madsen Collection of Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain Memorabilia Americana & Political Signature® Auction

Lot Number: 43038

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/6335*43038

Abraham Lincoln: 1860 Lincoln & Hamlin Campaign Flag. 17 1/4" 11 1/4" rare 1860 Lincoln & Hamlin campaign flag unlisted in Collins' "Thread of History". A 33-star printed cotton flag in red, white and blue, the example offered here is a particularly prized variety among collectors because of its unique spelling "Abram." A "must" for any serious collector of 19th century political textile items. Framed to an overall size of 20 1/8" x 14 1/4".

Produced in the immediate aftermath of the Republican National Convention in May 1860, this flag belongs to the earliest wave of campaign material that introduced Abraham Lincoln and his running mate, Hannibal Hamlin, to a national audience. In an era when candidates themselves were expected to remain publicly restrained, printed ephemera and textiles became the primary vehicles for shaping public recognition and political loyalty. Believed to have been manufactured by prominent Philadelphia flag maker H.C. Howard shortly after Lincoln's nomination, the use of a shortened form of Lincoln's name reflects period campaign conventions and the urgency with which such material was brought to market. Created at a pivotal moment as sectional tensions escalated and the Republican Party positioned itself on the national stage, this flag stands as a rare and compelling survivor from the opening chapter of one of the most consequential presidential campaigns in American history.

Condition: Not examined out of frame. Some minor general age related wear with some scattered small specks. Otherwise, an incredible example that retains its beautiful bright colors.

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