Large-format white woven silk ribbon with letterpress typography and multi-color printed woodcut engravings highlighted with applied gilt and delicate red hand-tinting to the American flag stripes. Measures approx. 4 x 8 in. July 1850.

An uncommonly large and ornately decorated presidential mourning ribbon issued immediately following the sudden death of 12th U.S. President Zachary Taylor on 9 July 1850.

The ribbon is arranged in a vertical allegorical montage. At the top, a vignette of the weeping willow and mountain landscape rests above a bold heraldic eagle with spread wings clutching a 13-star American flag with gold-fringed hoist and soft pink hand-tinted stripes. Below the eagle, an ornate rococo cartouche bordered by oak leaves and acorns frames a gilt profile bust of "Old Rough and Ready," inscribed: "President Zachary Taylor. / Born in 1784, Died July 9th, / 1850." Beneath an all-seeing eye issuing radiant celestial beams, bold letterpress text records the commander-in-chief's final utterance: "THE LAST COHERENT WORDS OF THE VENERABLE PATRIOT, PRESIDENT ZACHARY TAYLOR:— 'I die—I am expecting the summons—I am ready to meet death—I have endeavoured faithfully to discharge my duty—I am sorry to leave my friends!'"

Taylor died just 16 months into his presidency following acute gastrointestinal illness contracted after attending July 4th festivities at the unfinished Washington Monument. While small black monochrome silk ribbon badges were common at regional obsequies, oversized luxury presentation ribbons featuring multi-register vignettes, metallic gilt stamping, and colored pigment were issued in strictly limited numbers for state dignitaries and civic mourning processions.

[Zachary Taylor, President Zachary Taylor, Mourning Ribbon, Memorial Ribbon, Silk Ribbon, 1850, Old Rough and Ready, Whig Party, Mexican-American War, Presidential Memorial, Political Americana, Textile, Last Words, Antebellum Americana]

Very good condition. The silk textile remains remarkably supple, intact, and structurally stable, displaying crisp typographical impressions and bright, reflective gilding. Ribbon exhibits honest light age toning, minor scattered pinpoint foxing, and expected natural handling creasing without fraying to the raw cut top or bottom edges.