22 x 21 3/4 in. (559 x 552 mm) kerchief printed on cotton in various colors, old folds, minor fraying to ends.

The centennial of George Washington's first inauguration as president of the United States was marked with great fanfare throughout a nation that, less than a quarter century before, had nearly been torn asunder by the Civil War. With the Gilded Age in full swing and American prosperity at its height, the nation was in a celebratory mood. Naturally, manufacturers across the country sought to capitalize, and so countless books, tokens, and textiles depicting the first president flooded the market.

Celebrations took place across the country, though the most spectacular was the military parade in New York City on 30 April 1889. Accompanied by former presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and Grover Cleveland, President Benjamin Harrison watched as 50,000 members of the nation's armed forces marched through the city. A public concert at Madison Square followed, with 2,000 people in attendance, and the festivities were brought to a close by a spectacular fireworks display at various points throughout the city. RARE: We could trace only two other examples (one in the Mark Shenkman collection).

REFERENCES:
Not in Threads of History