American Historical Ephemera and Photography

Pictorial campaign lettersheet featuring an engraving of General Zachary Taylor surmounted by "Genl Taylor never surrenders" and at each corner a name of one of Taylor's Mexican War victories: "Palo Alto" / "Resaca de la Palma" / "Monterey" / and "Buena Vista." MILGRAM ZT-3, R-3 (less than 5 known). Letter dated 3 November 1848, four days before the national election.

According to Dr. James W. Milgram's American Illustrated Letter Stationery, 1819-1899, this engraved image with a facsimile signature "shows only an occasional letter was sent with a printed letterhead as a political message" (p.140).

The presidential election of 1848 took place nine months after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican–American War. With the issue of slavery and its extension into western territories dividing the nation, the Free Soil Party established itself as the third most powerful party in Congress. In the presidential election, Whig General Zachary Taylor defeated Democratic former senator Lewis Cass of Michigan and the Free Soil candidate, former President Martin Van Buren.