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

Lot Number: 43041

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/6335*43041

Abraham Lincoln: Wide Awake Rail-Splitter Fence Parade Standard. 10" x 24", overall. Exceptional and historically important folk art campaign parade display associated with the presidential campaigns of Abraham Lincoln, employing the powerful "Rail-Splitter" imagery central to his political identity. Entirely handmade, the display was designed to be carried aloft in torchlight processions and ranks among the rarest surviving three-dimensional artifacts of 19th-century American political campaigning.

Constructed on a rectangular wooden platform and fitted with an integral mounting block for parade use, the display features a carefully assembled tableau of Lincoln campaign symbolism: four sections of split-rail fencing arranged in a zig-zag pattern, each with five rails; a log with an embedded axe; and a maul propped against the fence with an attached wedge, all direct references to Lincoln's frontier labor and self-made image. Period finishes remain evident, including a dark cherry stain with black-painted details to the wedge and portions of the axe head. Overall height from platform to top of the maul is approximately 8½".

Accompanied by documented provenance in the form of a 1940 letter from the daughter of the original owner, who recalled that her father carved the piece by hand using a jackknife and carried it during Lincoln's campaign activities in Kinderhook, New York, likely during the second campaign. Formerly part of the renowned U. I. "Chick" Harris Collection, where it was regarded as a centerpiece of the collection's three-dimensional campaign material.

A visually compelling and exceedingly rare survival of early American political folk art, offering a tangible link to the spectacle and symbolism of Lincoln-era campaign culture.

Condition: Excellent overall; however, it is likely that a matching maul and wedge originally existed on the right side, creating a symmetrical presentation. The maul was broken off long ago, leaving only the remnant of its straight handle. This minor loss does little to detract from the remarkable craftsmanship and historical significance of this unique, Lincoln-era parade display.

NOTE: Special shipping arrangements may apply.

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