![[LINCOLN, Abraham]. CURRIER & IVES, publishers. "'Taking the Stump' or Stephen in Search of His Mother," lithographic political cartoon. New York: Currier & Ives, 1860. 1 page, (13½ x 18 in.), small marginal stain, edges a bit browned.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2006/NYR/2006_NYR_01636_0093_000(120833).jpg?w=1)
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[LINCOLN, Abraham]. CURRIER & IVES, publishers. "'Taking the Stump' or Stephen in Search of His Mother," lithographic political cartoon. New York: Currier & Ives, 1860. 1 page, (13½ x 18 in.), small marginal stain, edges a bit browned.
"STUMPING WON'T SAVE YOU": THE 1860 CAMPAIGN. An imaginative satire on the turbulent 1860 presidential campaign. Six candidates and political figures are depicted, from left to right: John Bell (Union presidential candidate), John A. Wise, (Virginia Democrat), Stephen A. Douglass, incumbent president James Buchanan, Democratic candidate John C. Breckinridge, and Abraham Lincoln (leaning against a symbolic spilt-rail fence). The cartoon puns on the word "stump." Douglas, in "taking the stump" to campaign, is handicapped by a pegleg; in a dialogue balloon, Douglas explains that "I fell over a big lump of Breckinridge." In turn, Breckinridge has a leg wrapped in bandages, and Buchanan holds out to him a pegleg, explaining "Here Breck, as Dug [Douglass] has taken the stump, you must stump it too." Breckinridge--possibly alluding to his poor showing in the Democratic party's May Convention--replies that "...it will be of no use, for I feel that I haven't got a leg to stand on." A tousle-haired Lincoln--the only man depicted in casual dress-- mockingly warns "Go it ye cripples! wooden legs are cheap, but stumping won't save you."
"STUMPING WON'T SAVE YOU": THE 1860 CAMPAIGN. An imaginative satire on the turbulent 1860 presidential campaign. Six candidates and political figures are depicted, from left to right: John Bell (Union presidential candidate), John A. Wise, (Virginia Democrat), Stephen A. Douglass, incumbent president James Buchanan, Democratic candidate John C. Breckinridge, and Abraham Lincoln (leaning against a symbolic spilt-rail fence). The cartoon puns on the word "stump." Douglas, in "taking the stump" to campaign, is handicapped by a pegleg; in a dialogue balloon, Douglas explains that "I fell over a big lump of Breckinridge." In turn, Breckinridge has a leg wrapped in bandages, and Buchanan holds out to him a pegleg, explaining "Here Breck, as Dug [Douglass] has taken the stump, you must stump it too." Breckinridge--possibly alluding to his poor showing in the Democratic party's May Convention--replies that "...it will be of no use, for I feel that I haven't got a leg to stand on." A tousle-haired Lincoln--the only man depicted in casual dress-- mockingly warns "Go it ye cripples! wooden legs are cheap, but stumping won't save you."