Andrew Johnson: Extremely Rare Cloth Bandana Picturing Him as President. ...

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Andrew Johnson: Extremely Rare Cloth Bandana Picturing Him as President. Having ascended to his unsuccessful presidency upon the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson was never a presidential candidate in his own right, and his great unpopularity did not inspire the usual spate of items commercially produced to honor a president in office. As a result, political and presidential collectors have few artifacts to choose from for this beleaguered president. This lavish, large cotton bandana, picturing him as president surrounded by four leading Union generals including Grant, is surely the premier Andrew Johnson display item. It is listed by Collins in Threads of History, page 170, no. 329 (oddly Collins classifies it as an 1864 item, even though it identifies him as president, an office he did not attain until April, 1865). Over the years we have seen but a single example prior to the discovery of the specimen offered here, and that copy may well have been the one illustrated in Collins' book.

This item has been professionally rebacked by expert textile conservator Jessica Hack (whose detailed report accompanies the item), and a few trivial small holes have been expertly inpainted. A few scattered small black marks detract minimally but must be noted for accuracy. Typically, the white background has evenly toned to a beige shade. Displays as near mint. 27" x 25".