Jeff Davis
- Title:
- Jeff Davis
- Alternate Title:
- Jeff Davis
- Collection:
- Persuasive Maps: PJ Mode Collection
- Creator:
- Magnus, Charles
- Date:
- 1865
- Posted Date:
- 2024-04-25
- ID Number:
- 2473.01
- File Name:
- PJM_2473_01.jpg
- Style/Period:
- 1800 - 1869
- Subject:
- Advertising & Promotion
Heaven and Hell
Pictorial
U.S. Civil War - Measurement:
- 4 diameter (centimeters, height x width)
- Notes:
- This civil war song for Northern soldiers is a vicious attack on Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy during the Civil War, as a "black-heated thief" and the "vile traitor that brought these hard times to me." It is topped with portraits of Davis and his Secretary of War John Breckenridge; between them is a tiny circular map of the Confederate States in a frame held by a grinning devil. Breckenridge, from Kentucky, had been Vice President of the United States in the administration of James Buchanan from 1857 to 1861, but then served as a confederate general and became Davis's Secretary of War in February 1865.
It was produced by Charles Magnus, a mapmaker, lithographer and prolific publisher in New York for most of the last half of the 19th century. He is perhaps best known today for producing an enormous amount of printed ephemera, often reusing and repurposing his illustrations. His works included not only song sheets like this, but maps, bird's-eye views, prints of important buildings, events and people, greeting cards, illustrated lettersheets and envelopes, many of them with patriotic themes (particularly showing his support of the Union in the Civil War). During the Civil War alone, Magnus produced approximately 300 song sheets (http://findingaid.winterthur.org/html/HTML_Finding_Aids/COL0123.htm, accessed December 11. 2014.) See generally McKinstry 2013. For other Magnus works in the collection, Search > "Magnus."
This song sheet, like many published by Magnus, is undated. Because Breckenridge didn't achieve particular prominence among the confederates until he became Secretary of War, the publication date is here estimated to be 1865.
Cornell University Library is pleased to present this digital collection of Persuasive Maps, the originals of which have been collected and described by the private collector PJ Mode. The descriptive information in the “Collector’s Notes” has been supplied by Mr. Mode and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cornell University. - Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- For important information about copyright and use, see http://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/copyright.