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1860, Lincoln-Hamlin and Bell-Everett Campaign Flags (U.S.)

image located by William Garrison, 5 April 2024

Lincoln-Hamlin Campaign Flags
Bell-Everett Campaign Flags

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Description of the flag

Lincoln & Hamlin Campaign Flag. 13" x 8.25" glazed cotton flag with 31 stars in the canton, inscribed on the stripes: "For President, Abram Lincoln. For Vice President, Hannibal Hamlin"; c. 1860. [Photo credit: Heritage Auctions.]

Source: https://historical.ha.com/itm/political

William Garrison, 5 April 2024

image located by William Garrison, 19 October 2025

From https://historical.ha.com

"Lincoln & Hamlin" : 1860 Campaign Parade Flag with unusual 16-star-union configuration with only 7 stripes. 21" x 41" [sight] cotton parade flag, printed in bold red, white, and blue. The flag features 4 rows of stars, with twelve fully visible and four partials. The flag features 3-red and 4-white alternating stripes, with the two central white stripes boldly stenciled "LINCOLN. &. HAMLIN."

William Garrison, 19 October 2025

One has to be very careful with flags like this. I am not saying this is a forgery of any kind but finding or making an old flag and stenciling something Lincoln on it is one of the most common fakes out there. The listing says nothing about any appraisal or provenance report so Caveat Emptor!
Dave Martucci, 19 October 2025

image located by William Garrison, 20 February 2026

Source: https://historical.ha.com/itm/political/textile-display-pre-1896-/abraham-lincoln-1860-lincoln-and-hamlin-campaign-flag/a/6335-43038.s

Partial comment by the auction house: "Abraham Lincoln: 1860 Lincoln & Hamlin Campaign Flag. 17 1/4" 11 1/4" rare 1860 Lincoln & Hamlin campaign flag unlisted in Collins' "Thread of History". A 33-star printed cotton flag in red, white and blue, the example offered here is a particularly prized variety among collectors because of its unique spelling "Abram." .... Framed to an overall size of 20 -1/8" x 14-1/4". Produced in the immediate aftermath of the Republican National Convention in May 1860, this flag belongs to the earliest wave of campaign material that introduced Abraham Lincoln and his running mate, Hannibal Hamlin, to a national audience. In an era when candidates themselves were expected to remain publicly restrained, printed ephemera and textiles became the primary vehicles for shaping public recognition and political loyalty. Believed to have been manufactured by prominent Philadelphia flag maker H.C. Howard shortly after Lincoln's nomination, the use of a shortened form of Lincoln's name reflects period campaign conventions and the urgency with which such material was brought to market."
William Garrison, 20 February 2026

Bell-Everett Campaign Flags

image located by William Garrison, 28 January 2025

An 1860 U.S. presidential campaign flag, 11.75" x 8" glazed cotton flag; inscribed: "For President, John Bell. For Vice President, Edward Everett, The Union and the Constitution." They campaigned on the "Constitutional Union Party". but lost to Pres. Abraham Lincoln.
Source: https://historical.ha.com/itm/political

William Garrison, 28 January 2025

image located by William Garrison, 20 February 2026

Source: https://historical.ha.com/itm/political/textile-display-pre-1896-/bell-and-everett-campaign-parade-flag/a/6335-43048.s

Partial auction house comments: "Bell & Everett: Campaign Parade Flag. 11-1/2" x 17-1/4" glazed cotton flag in support of the 1860 Constitutional Union Party nominees." This same design was used for a similarly looking 1860 Lincoln-Hamlin presidential-campaign flag.

William Garrison, 20 February 2026