A group of sixteen (16) Civil War covers featuring illustrations and caricatures lampooning Confederate president Jefferson Davis. Items include: 

 

1. Master Jeff - and his Navy. New York: D. Murphy's Son.

 

Printed in blue, a caricature of Davis holds up a toy boat waving a Confederate First National flag. 

 

2. Did'nt I tell you so? Jeff. Davis. N.p., [1865?]. Printed in red. A beseeching woman, probably lampooning Davis's failed escape attempt while wearing women's clothes. 

 

3. ALL I WANT IS TO BE LET A LOAN, / $15,000,000. / I'LL TAKE ANYTHING. - / But WASHINGTON, / That's no CAPITOL for me. [Philadelphia: Magee, 1861.]

 

Printed in blue, illustrated with worthless Confederate currency and scrip marked "No Redemption." 

 

4. Dictator Jeff finding he cannot have the whole of Virginia, concludes to take only a part. New York: D. Murphy's Son, [circa 1863]. 

 

An evil-looking monkey grasps the tail of a cat labeled "VIRGINIA" and attempts to cut off its tail. 

 

5.UNKLE SAM & JEFF. Printed in blue. 

 

Uncle Sam says "JES SO JEFF! AND MORE TO"  to a Jeff Davis burdened by heavy sacks labeled "Mobile," "New Orleans," Charleston," and "Treasury." He responds, "I ONLY WANT TO BE LET ALONE". Fort Pickens and Sumter are in the background with a large Federal Eagle looming.  Below is a patriotic quatrain: "Yankee doodle is the tune / Americans delight in / It'l do to whistle sing and play / And ust the thing for fightin."

 

6. JEFF DAVIS. - Puss, Oh! what a nice little Washington Bird. GEN. SCOTT. - Yes Pussy, very nice. Why don't you take it. Philadelphia: Magee. 

 

A dog with a man's head wearing a kepi guards a bird from a cat. 

 

7. Striking dramatic attitude assumed by Jeff. Davis on beholding one of the Union Volunteers on the "sacred soil" of Virginia.

 

A snivelling caricature of Davis reacts to the vision of an idealized Union soldier resembling George Washington. 

 

8. The "Union" Pill in operation, working out the quack nostrums of Doctor Davis & Co. New York: D. Murphy's Son.

 

Printed in blue, a cannonball-pill labeled "UNION" causes several anthropomorphized vials of tinctures and pills to flee. 

 

9. Jeff. chewing the Secession Flag-Root. 

 

Printed in black. A caricature of Davis in old-fashioned military uniform eats the flag while a sycophantic Southerner looks reverently at the flag saying, "Sweet flag." With the caption "'He will hold on to the beter end.' -DAVIS' SPEECH."

 

10. Jeff uses Virginia as a cat's paw. New York: D. Murphy's Son. 

 

Printed in red and blue, a cat wearing a plumed officer's chapeau manipulates another cat labeled "VIRG..." to light a fire. 

 

11. Secession must have "turned their heads" When they let a J*** D***** caper o'er them / But lo! no more the earth he treads, A sad "reverse" is now before them! New York: New York Union Envelope Depot, Brown & Ryan.

 

Printed with the caption printed partially upside down, Confederate soldiers look on as a donkey labeled "J.D." falls off a bridge. 

 

12. The End of Secession! Philadelphia: Magee. 

 

A praying man in a boat is on the precipice of a waterfall with devils awaiting him. With the caption: "JEFF DAVIS. - Oh! I am afraid I am a goner."

 

13. Jeff's unbounded ambition gives him an elevated position. Printed in red. 

 

Union Zouaves hold Davis aloft on the points of their bayonets. With the caption, "I only wanted to be let alone." 

 

14. ...Is Mrs. Jefferson Davis in? Philadelphia: Magee, 1861. 

 

A lady and a water hold an exchange; "Lady - Is Mrs. Jefferson Davis in? / Waiter- There is no such person about these premises. / Lady - Well, really, that's strange. She gave me her card three months ago, requesting me to call upon her at the White House on the 1st May. / Waiter- True, Mr. Jeff Davis talked of taking the White House but instead of that he took to his heels."

 

15. [Union Broth]. [Philadelphia]: S.C. Upham, 310 Chestnut St. 

 

An exchange between Jefferson Davis as an ill patient, and General Winfield Scott as his doctor: " J.D. (patient.) Doctor, I don't know what to think of my disorder. I should call it the ague, only the fever came first, and now I am shaking in my boots. / Dr. Scott. well, Davis, you'll find you are too far north. You will have the shakes in earnest unless you take some of this Union Broth to strengthen you - you must take it!"

 

16. Jeff Davis' Passport. New York: New York Union Envelope Depot. 

 

A stylized invitation reads: "Mr. Jeff Davis and friends are permitted to leave the State of Virginia. Winfield Scott." 

 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Broadsides, Ephemera, Printing, Posters, Handbills, Documents, Newspapers] [Stamps, Covers, Envelopes, Postal History, Philately, Philatelic History]