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Title: James K. Polk
Description: Bust-length portrait within an ornate border of the U.S. president responsible for the statehood of Texas. Polk, attired in a white collared shirt, a black cravat, waistcoat, and jacket, faces to the right and tucks his left hand into his waistcoat. Border includes the figure of the American eagle, and a vignette titled "Annexation of Texas" depicting a trio of military officers reading the declaration of annexation to a crowd of civilians, including a cheering African American man. Border also includes angelic male torsos, flourishes, scrolls, and ornaments., Title from printed signature of sitter below image., Date inferred from content., Gift of Dr. Milton and Mrs. Joan Wohl, 1991., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of the Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014., Edwards, an English engraver, worked with New York publishing firms in the mid-19th century.
Creator: Edwards, W. Joseph, active 1843-1867, engraver
Date: [ca. 1856]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department portrait prints - Polk [P.9363.81]

Title: James K. Polk
Description: Bust-length portrait within an ornate border of the U.S. president responsible for the statehood of Texas. Polk, attired in a white collared shirt, a black cravat, waistcoat, and jacket, faces to the right and tucks his left hand into his waistcoat. Border includes the figure of Liberty, depicted as a white woman, and a vignette titled "Annexation of Texas" depicting a trio of military officers reading the declaration of annexation to a crowd of civilians, including a cheering African American man. Border also includes angelic male torsos, flourishes, scrolls, and ornaments., Title from printed signature of sitter below image., Date inferred from content., Accessioned 1982., Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of the Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014., Andrews and Babson, Boston engravers, collaborated in the 1850s.
Creator: J. Andrews & R.E. Babson, engraver
Date: [ca. 1855]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department portrait prints - Polk [P.8911.790]

Title: The slavery question. Great prize-fight of the American eagle against the wolf and the alligator
Description: Cartoon portraying the extension of slavery as dependent upon the United States' successful annexation of California and Texas. Depicts the American eagle on a mound protecting her nest of hatchlings labeled "Texas" and "California" from a wolf and an alligator. The wolf dressed as a sheep is being restrained by John Bull who represents England and states, "I bet Canada" (a proposed U.S. annexation). The alligator is being restrained by Don Quixote who represents Spain and states, "I bet Cuba!" (another proposed U.S. annexation). In front of the nest sits a barefooted enslaved African American man, portrayed in racist caricature and attired in torn and worn clothes. He holds his head in hands with the unbroken pot of slavery on his left and the broken pot of liberty, under the foot of John Bull, on his right. Behind the nest stands a bowery B'hoy figure holding a banner inscribed, "The Union Forever" and George Washington stating, "Go it, my boy you will beat them all.", Title from item., Publication date supplied by Weitenkampf., Inscribed: Pl. 4., Purchase 1975., RVCDC, Description revised 2021., Access points revised 2021., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of the Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014.
Date: [1844]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Political cartoons - 1844-75W [8138.F]

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