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United States Civil War patriotic envelopes collection

Special Collections and Archives

United States Civil War patriotic envelopes collection

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Special Collections and Archives

United States Civil War patriotic envelopes collection

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  • Repository: Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
  • Title: United States Civil War patriotic envelopes collection
  • Inclusive Date(s): 1861-1865
  • Author: Finding aid prepared by Stephanie Tulley
  • Creation: Finding aid encoded by Stephanie Tulley using the OhioLINK EAD Application in 2011
  • Origination: Ian Brabner (Bookseller)
  • Extent: .16 cubic feet (slim document case)
  • Physical Location: 11th floor
  • Finding Aid Identifier: OhKeUSC0130
  • Abstract: A varied collection of forty-four American Civil War-era patriotic envelopes dating from 1861-1865. Each envelope is adorned with artwork, often depicting the political and cultural turmoil of the time.
  • Language(s): The records are in English


Scope and Content

This collection consists of forty-five American Civil War patriotic envelopes dating from 1861-1865. The artwork on the envelopes covers a variety of subjects, ranging from caricatures of famous political figures to flags and patriotic poems.

Statement of Arrangement

The envelopes in this collection are arranged alphabetically by title.

Preferred Citation

United States Civil War patriotic envelopes collection. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased from Ian Brabner, Bookseller, Wilmington, Delaware, who also compiled the collection.

Subject Headings
The following subjects are found in this collection:

  • Subjects:
  • Covers (Philately)--United States--History--19th century
  • Covers (Philately)--Confederate States of America
  • Symbolism in politics--United States--History--19th century
  • Symbolism in politics--Confederate States of America
  • Popular culture--United States--History--19th century
  • Popular culture--Confederate States of America
  • United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Postal service
  • United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Pictorial works
  • Postal service--United States--History--19th century
  • Postal service--Confederate States of America
  • Functions:
  • Propaganda
  • Material Types:
  • Patriotic envelopes
  • Caricatures
  • Cartoons
  • Envelopes
  • Prints
  • National emblems


Detailed Description of the Collection

This collection of forty-four envelopes from the Civil War-era demonstrates political, social, and economic issues of the time. The subjects of the envelopes are varied, ranging from depictions of famous individuals, to the issues of slavery, secession, and traitors.

The titles given to each envelope reflect the captions listed on the envelope, unless otherwise noted.
  • Box 1 / Folder 1
  • Extended description of the collection by Ian Brabner (Bookseller), undated
  • Box 1 / Folder 2
  • Agriculture, Manufactures, Fine Arts, undated
  • Physical Description: Uncle Sam at the spinning wheel, turning hemp into a hanging noose
  • Box 1 / Folder 3
  • All we want is to be let alone, undated
  • Physical Description: Dog chasing rats away from the U.S. Mint carrying bags of money
  • Box 1 / Folder 4
  • Artemas Ward having had his "Wax Figger Show" 'fiscated, is taken before Jeff. Davis by the Vigilance Committee., undated
  • Physical Description: Artemus Ward, blindfolded, is being led through a wooden door by two men.
  • Box 1 / Folder 5
  • Beware, undated
  • Physical Description: Bald eagle standing on a federal shield, carrying a banner that reads
  • Box 1 / Folder 6
  • Blood money; Or how Southern Rebels encourage piracy, undated
  • Physical Description: Image of Jefferson Davis with the caption: First pirate to Jeff Davis-
  • Box 1 / Folder 7
  • The British Lion heedless of the Trap, The string of which is held by Emp'ror Nap..., undated
  • Physical Description: Man pulling a string on a trap, baiting a lion with cotton.
  • Box 1 / Folder 8
  • "By golly Massa Butler. I like dis better dan workin' in de field for ole Sesesh massa.", undated
  • Physical Description: An African-American man stands at a desk polishing boots.
  • Box 1 / Folder 9
  • Co. A. Jeff D's Zouaves, undated
  • Physical Description: Picture of two turtles
  • Box 1 / Folder 10
  • "Come back here, you black rascal." "Can't come back nohow, massa; Dis chile's contraban' ", undated
  • Physical Description: Depicts a white man holding a whip facing a group of African-Americans running toward Fort Monroe.
  • Box 1 / Folder 11
  • Contraband of war, undated
  • Physical Description: Union flag flying behind two soldiers facing a group of African-American men holding tools.
  • Box 1 / Folder 12
  • Cotton is king!, undated
  • Physical Description: Man kneeling over an African-American man, with his hands outstretched to a caricature of a bushel of cotton wearing a crown.
  • Box 1 / Folder 13
  • Don't see it; Big thing Big thing, 1861
  • Physical Description: Two dogs talking over a piece of meat labeled
  • Box 1 / Folder 14
  • Don't you wish you may get it?, undated
  • Physical Description: Rooster labeled
  • Box 1 / Folder 15
  • E. E. Ellsworth, undated
  • Physical Description: Portrait of E. E. Ellsworth with the caption,
  • Box 1 / Folder 16
  • Fate of traitors, 1861
  • Physical Description: Depiction of Jefferson Davis being hung by a noose.
  • Box 1 / Folder 17
  • Father- Col. Ellsworth was shot dead this morning. I killed his murderer. Frank., 1861
  • Physical Description: Depiction of a Zouave bayonetting a man, with other Zouaves in the background.
  • Box 1 / Folder 18
  • Guards, up and at them, undated
  • Physical Description: Depiction of a Zouaves pointing a gun.
  • Box 1 / Folder 19
  • His marque., undated
  • Physical Description: A flag with a leg with A.L. [Abraham Lincoln] over it kicking the rear of a man labeled J.D. [Jefferson Davis].
  • Box 1 / Folder 20
  • The innocent cause of all the trouble., undated
  • Physical Description: A caricature of the devil sitting on top of a bail of cotton.
  • Box 1 / Folder 21
  • The innocent cause of the war., undated
  • Physical Description: Caricature of a slave holding a garden hoe.
  • Box 1 / Folder 22
  • I'se contraband, undated
  • Physical Description: Image of an African-American man in front of a star holding the names of the Confederate states.
  • Box 1 / Folder 23
  • I wonder if the coast is clear?, undated
  • Physical Description: Union military cats sit atop bales of cotton, and look on at hanging rats.
  • Box 1 / Folder 24
  • Jeff Davis alarmed, undated
  • Physical Description: Jefferson Davis caricaturized as a scarecrow saying,
  • Box 1 / Folder 25
  • Jeff's Knave-y, undated
  • Physical Description: Jefferson Davis and six men in a bowl with a pirate flag flying. Underneath it says,
  • Box 1 / Folder 26
  • John Brown, undated
  • Physical Description: A portrait of John Brown, with the caption,
  • Box 1 / Folder 27
  • Major General B. F. Butler, 1861
  • Physical Description: A portrait of the General with the caption,
  • Box 1 / Folder 28
  • One of the "Flowers" of the Rebel Army, provided with a pair of seven-league boots, undated
  • Physical Description: Solider with a boot hanging from his back pocket.
  • Box 1 / Folder 29
  • Rebel Army "Rations.", undated
  • Physical Description: Three soldiers eating from barrels labeled
  • Box 1 / Folder 30
  • Repudiation, undated
  • Physical Description: Man wearing a hat labeled
  • Box 1 / Folder 31
  • Rice straw!, undated
  • Physical Description: Two dogs bark at a starving horse, with the caption,
  • Box 1 / Folder 32
  • Scott's Tactics, undated
  • Physical Description: Picture of a man and a dog hunting down a small animal with a spear.
  • Box 1 / Folder 33
  • Secession Cavalry, undated
  • Physical Description: Confederate soliders riding on the backs of African-American men.
  • Box 1 / Folder 34
  • Secession hanging from the Union 34 pounder, undated
  • Physical Description: Cariacture of an officer hanging from a noose by a weight labeled
  • Box 1 / Folder 35
  • Secessionist, undated
  • Physical Description: Image of a donkey with the caption,
  • Box 1 / Folder 36
  • Southern Ass-Stock-Crazy (Southern Aristocracy), undated
  • Physical Description: Image of a donkey chained to a wooden post labeled
  • Box 1 / Folder 37
  • Spirit of the South, undated
  • Physical Description: Caricature of three men depicted as being drunk, holding up glasses.
  • Box 1 / Folder 38
  • Stiring him up., undated
  • Physical Description: Jeff Davis on his hands and knees in a mobile circus cart labeled,
  • Box 1 / Folder 39
  • That's the bait!, undated
  • Physical Description: A Union man fishing with a cannon as bait, while fish labeled with the names of Confederate states swim to the bait.
  • Box 1 / Folder 40
  • Union glue, undated
  • Physical Description: Three Confederate men trying to pull another from the floor.
  • Box 1 / Folder 41
  • Whole or none., undated
  • Physical Description: Image of a hog split in the middle by a Union flag.
  • Box 1 / Folder 42
  • Why don't you take it?, undated
  • Physical Description: General Scott caricatured as a dog talking to Jefferson Davis, also caricatured as a dog, over a piece of meat labeled
  • Box 1 / Folder 43
  • Untitled: Bald eagle holding banner in its beak, undated
  • Physical Description: Banner bears a patriotic poem.
  • Box 1 / Folder 44
  • Untitled: Dogs with North and South collars, undated
  • Box 1 / Folder 45
  • Untitled: Rooster and chicken, undated
  • Physical Description: Rooster with Union flag facing chicken with pirate flag
  • Box 1 / Folder 46
  • Untitled: Union flag, undated
  • Physical Description: Union flag with a patriotic poem underneath
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