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“Lincoln & Davis in 5 Rounds” – Civil War Patriotic Boxing Covers Showing Lincoln Fighting Jefferson Davis in 1861 |
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John H. Tingley of New York City produced these five envelopes to meet the demand for patriotic stationery early in the Civil War. Unlike many printing firms that placed an image on the left side of the envelope, leaving room for the address, Tingley used the entire front of the envelope for a series of pro-Union cartoons featuring President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate President Jefferson Davis as boxers.
In the 1st round, Lincoln and Davis stand in a boxing ring. Lincoln says, “I use no more force than necessary,” and Davis responds, “Let me Alone!” Lincoln’s main supporter in his corner is Secretary of State William H. Seward, though other members of Lincoln’s cabinet and General Winfield Scott are present as well. Supporting Davis is the Confederacy’s first Brigadier General P. G. T. Beauregard and a group of aristocratic politicians. In the background, foreign observers on the Confederate side float atop a globe and exclaim, “Belligerents!” while several slaves sit idle.
In the 2nd round, Lincoln has beaten Davis back and ripped his pants. Lincoln shouts, “Go back you dog to the junction. I’ll call on you there soon.”Davis says, “Beauregard, let’s fall back on Richmond.” Seward says that “Secession is looking smaller,” the European observers cry, “We are drifting into rough water,” and the slaves rejoice.
In the 3rd round, Lincoln grips Davis around the neck and declares, “I will soon smother those pirates,” as the Davis supporters flee, trampling over the slaves. One says “Let’s go home boys,” and Beauregard shouts, “Well Cobb, shall we call and seek Pickens?” One European observer cries out, “Blockaded,” while another says, “Effectual too! I am off, Garibaldi wants me.” The globe on which they float has moved substantially toward the Union side. Hunting dogs that have appeared in the foreground on the Confederate side are emaciated and have turned away.
In the 4th round, Secretary of State Seward and General Winfield Scott enter the ring. Seward asks, “General where is secession now?” and Scott replies, “Don’t you see that greasespot?” Lincoln turns away from the ring toward the U.S. Capitol and says, “I have taken the world by surprize.” On the right appears the message, “Virginia and Kentucky may now be heard in behalf of the whole Union.”
In the 5th round, Lincoln stands inside the “Champion Belt” before a pyramid composed of all the states of the Union, from atop which a U.S. flag flies. He speaks to four cheering men representing the directions of the compass: “You shall all have my impartial, constitutional and humble protection!” At lower left, a cannon extends the warning, “Traitors Beware!! For We Still Live.” At upper right, a seated figure of liberty declares, “I Still Live.”
[ABRAHAM LINCOLN and JEFFERSON DAVIS].
Complete set of five Civil War Union patriotic envelopes,
“Champion Prize Envelope: Lincoln & Davis in 5 Rounds” New York: Copyrighted by Thomas S. Peirce, 1861, published by John H. Tingley, 152½ Fulton Street, New York. 5 pp., 5¾ x 3¼ in.
Inventory #27269
Price: $2,400
A notice in the New-York Daily Tribune, August 7, 1861, 3:4, announced this set as the “Champion Prize Envelope: Lincoln & Davis in 5 Rounds,” observing that “the engravings are on steel, and the delineations representing the several states of the fight somewhat funny.”
Thomas S. Peirce (1808-1872) was born in New Hampshire and married Anne B. Marland in 1836 in Andover, Massachusetts. In 1860, he sold hats in New York City and lived in Brooklyn with his wife and two children. Peirce copyrighted this series of images in 1861.
John H. Tingley (b. c. 1839) was born in Connecticut and became a bookseller and stationer in New York City. In July 1861, he advertised 600 different “comic patriotic envelopes.” Tingley specialized in publishing games, including Peirce’s Army Game Casket (1862), a small box containing everything needed to play chess, checkers, backgammon, cards, dominoes, and other games. He also published The Santa Clause Book of Games and Puzzles in 1864.
Condition: Minor faults on flaps, repaired with postage stamp hinges; fine.
Ex- Dr. Blaine Houmes.
