American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Salt River Telegraph. Extra. [Philadelphia]: N.p., [1867]. 8 1/2 x 16 1/2 in. printed broadside (folds, some staining, chipping to edges); framed to 11 1/2 x 23 1/2 in. (not examined out of frame). A satire of the Philadelphia 1867 sheriff election between Democrat Peter Lyle who defeated Republican Joseph Cowell. The broadside expresses anti-Black and anti-Republican sentiment as evidenced by the portrait of an African-American man that is captioned: "This is what killed the Republican Party." "Salt River" was a popular euphemism in the 19th century synonymous with political failure and humiliation. 

The broadside is framed together with a 2 x 3 1/4 in. printed card with headline, "Ho for Salt River!," with illustration of a naval subject below carrying the sign, "A Cheap Passage in the New Steamer G.W. Woodward, To Salt River, Capt. Lowrie." With "Copperhead Lunch" printed in left margin, and "Served up in Style" printed in right margin. 

[With:] The Philadelphia Enquirer, Philadelphia, PA: 8 July 1861, other date not visible. Inside pages from 2 issues of the Philadelphia Enquirer featuring samples of illustrations used for patriotic covers during the Civil War, including a few examples depicting African American subjects. Framed to 29 x 26 in. (newspapers may not be complete, each with folds, creasing, staining to edges, areas of loss, not examined out of frame).