Item Summary

Whig nominee Zachary Taylor's reluctance to clearly declare his political views was an issue eagerly exploited by the opposition in the 1848 campaign. Here the artist shows phrenologist Orson S. Fowler probing the candidate's skull to determine his "principles," as New York "Tribune" editor Horace Greeley (left) takes notes. Greeley asks, "What for a Prsident would he make?" Fowler replies, "he says he is 'Incompetent, ' & so say his developments." Taylor (center) sits grumbling, "When I get to Washington I will turn [Postmaster General] Cave Johnson out, and put a good Military man in his place, This paying 7.50 for "dead letters," is too much for me to stand."

Descriptive Information

Title
The candidate of many parties. A phrenological examination to ascertain what his political principles are.
Call Number
E-North 38/GC024/19th-Century American Caricatures/Normal/19th c./Caricatures GA 2024.03005
Identifier
ark:/88435/dcv692tk40m
Publisher
New York : Lithd. & Published by H.R. Robinson - 31 Park Row, 1848.
Language
English
Date Created
1848
Extent
1 print : lithograph on wove paper ; image: 29.1 x 38 cm
Source Acquisition
Princeton copy 1 Gift of James B. Rankin, Princeton University Class of 1923.
References
Weitenkampf, F. Political caricature in the United States in separately published cartoons, p. 93
Lorant, p. 19
Rights Statement
Copyright Not Evaluated
Notes
Drawn by "W.J.C."
Princeton copy 1 Inscribed in graphite bottom left corner: "216" ; Visual - E series no. 9163 ; acc 1959 June.

Discovery Information

Subject
United States—History—1815-1861
Taylor, Zachary 1784-1850
Fowler, O. S. (Orson Squire) 1809-1887
Greeley, Horace 1811-1872
Fowler & Wells
Caricatures

Physical Characteristics

File Count
2

Institutional Information

Collection
Omega Project
Selections from the Graphic Arts Collection
IIIF Manifest URL

https://figgy.princeton.edu/concern/scanned_resources/04673a0f-f76f-407a-9905-fdf57cdae36a/manifest