LOT #43041 |
Starting Bid: $4,000
Abraham Lincoln: Wide Awake Rail-Splitter Fence Parade Standard....
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Description
A Hand-Carved Rail-Splitter Torchlight Parade Display Used During Lincoln's Campaign
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.
Auction Info
2026 March 18 The Dan Madsen Collection of Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain Memorabilia Americana & Political Signature® Auction #6335 (go to Auction Home page)
Proxy Bidding Ends
March
18th
Wednesday
10:50 am CT
Auction Dates
March
18th
Wednesday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining
26 Days
17h 52m 21s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 0
Lot Tracking Activity: 14
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Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% of the successful bid (minimum $49) per lot.
This lot is in: 1 -
Signature® Floor Session (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 43001-43084) - 11:00 AM Central Time, Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]
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Additional Location Info:
Heritage Auctions - Dallas
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
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