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An historic broadside with a connection to early newspapers… revisiting “The Gerry-Mander”…
May 12, 2025 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
Although we just discussed the historic broadside, “The Gerry-Mander”, a few days ago, since it was initially part of Timothy Hughes’ personal collection, we thought it might enjoy hearing from him directly. Enjoy.
From Tim…
Many years ago I had access to a very unusual broadside (single sheet, printed on one side only) titled: “Natural And Political History of THE GERRY-MANDER! In Two Chapters…..With Cuts.” Although it was not a newspaper, which was always my focus, a little investigation showed it had a newspaper collection. It would not be until many years later that I discovered how historically significant it really was.
“Gerrymander” is an interesting term that came into being in 1812 at a meeting of Federalist political leaders and newspapermen in Boston. Complaints about the efforts of their Republican opponents to rig state elections by altering voting districts led artist Elkanah Tisdale to add a head and wings to an outlined map of a new senatorial district in Essex County and name it the “gerrymander” after the leader of the Jeffersonians, Governor Elbridge Gerry. The cartoon shocked the public and proved very effective. Gerrymander has since become embedded in the political lexicon of America.
This broadside we offer is described by dealer Barry Lawrence Ruderman as a “Rare political broadside featuring the first political cartoon in American history to visualize and satirize gerrymandering, one of the most enduring distortions of democratic representation…”.
As seen in the photos, this broadside pairs two woodcut maps with satirical letterpress text mocking the 1812 Massachusetts Senate redistricting law. The cartoon appeared in the Boston Gazette in March 1812, and quickly spread.
The left woodcut depicts the now-famous creature with wings, claws, and a serpent-like neck, labeling the towns it distorts. The right side features a straightforward district map of Essex County showing the two senatorial districts under the new law. The surrounding text is divided into “Natural History” and “Political History.” The first, reprinted from the Gazette, invents a monstrous genealogy for the gerrymander; the second details the law’s consequences—particularly how the Democratic-Republicans expanded their Senate majority from 21–19 to 29–11 despite losing the popular vote.
The American Antiquarian Society tentatively dates this broadside printing to between 1813 and 1822, the latter date coinciding with renewed controversy around redistricting. The cartoon here is virtually identical to the original Gazette version, suggesting either reuse of the block or a careful recutting of it.
Everything about this broadside makes this a landmark artifact of political commentary and electoral history in the United States.
It measures 18 by 20 inches, has minimal foxing, and is in nice condition. One dealer offers this very same broadside for $24,500.
The Gerry-Mander (1813-1822) – an extremely rare find…
May 9, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
And so it began… but not without a bit of push back…
Shown below is a somewhat detailed analysis of an intriguing item which is rarely seen. When published in the early 1800s it brought to light a new technique in the election process which was certainly not conceived by the original “founders” of the United States: Gerrymandering. Whereas a brief description can be found posted on the item’s listing (The Gerry-Mander!), due to the volume of information available through multiple sources – especially in the face of its under-the-radar significance and rarity, we thought others might appreciate learning about the broadside as much as we have. We hope you enjoy.
Summary
The broadside “Natural And Political History of THE GERRY-MANDER! In Two Chapters…..With Cuts” is likely from 1813–1822, published in Boston, and satirizes early U.S. gerrymandering. It reprints an 1812 cartoon and article coining “gerrymander,” linking to Governor Elbridge Gerry’s redistricting favoring Democrat-Republicans. Included are two sections:
• “Natural History”: Reprints the 1812 Boston Gazette piece, humorously describing the “Gerry-mander” as a new political monster.
• “Political History”: An original essay explaining the 1812 redistricting’s origins, noting it favored Democrat-Republicans (winning 29 seats to Federalists’ 11, despite more votes for Federalists). It calls for ending such practices, though gerrymandering persists today.
The broadside is a historically significant document which is only found in a few institutions – one being the Massachusetts Historical Society. It is not listed in Shaw & Shoemaker, a bibliography of early American imprints, underscoring its rarity.
Historical Context and Origin of “Gerrymander”
The term “gerrymander” emerged in 1812 during the governorship of Elbridge Gerry, a prominent figure in early American politics who signed the Declaration of Independence and served as James Madison’s vice president. In February 1812, Massachusetts Republicans, led by Gerry, engineered a radical redistricting plan to disadvantage the Federalist majority in the upcoming state senatorial elections. This plan was particularly evident in Essex County, where one district was redrawn into an irregular, elongated shape that resembled a salamander. The cartoon, first published in the Boston Gazette on March 26, 1812, was attributed to illustrator Elkanah Tisdale, who added wings, claws, and fearsome teeth to the map, transforming it into a monstrous creature. The term “Gerry-mander” was coined during a dinner conversation, possibly by painter Gilbert Stuart or poet Richard Alsop, combining Gerry’s name with the mythical beast.
The redistricting was highly effective: in the 1812 election, the Republicans’ majority grew from 21-19 to 29-11, despite the Federalists receiving more votes. This outcome highlighted the manipulative potential of gerrymandering, where politicians could pick their voters rather than voters choosing their representatives. However, ironically, Gerry lost his re-election bid in 1812, and there is little evidence he strongly supported the redistricting law, though his name became indelibly linked to the practice.
Additional Details & Summary
The broadside reprints the original 1812 cartoon and article from the Boston Gazette (March 26, 1812), attributed to illustrator Elkanah Tisdale, which depicted the district as a winged, clawed monster with satirical text. It is a rare and historically significant artifact that encapsulates the early American political practice of gerrymandering, a term and concept that remain central to discussions of electoral fairness. It’s call for ending gerrymandering contrasts with its persistence, as seen in modern debates over redistricting and voting rights. It serves as a reminder of the long-standing tension between political strategy and fair representation, with the term “gerrymander” remaining a symbol of electoral manipulation. The pronunciation note from some sources, suggesting it should be “gerrymander” with a hard ‘g’ rather than the common “jerrymander,” adds a linguistic dimension to its legacy, reflecting regional and historical variations in usage.
The reason I collected it: The State, 1892…
February 23, 2024 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The odd, dramatic, and unusual have always been a draw for me, and when I encountered The State (dated Nov. 9, 1892) from Richmond, Virginia, I knew it had to be part of the private collection.
The entire front page is a celebration of the election of Grover Cleveland as President in 1892. It is done in a very dramatic fashion, featuring a huge engraving of a rooster (once the symbol of the Democratic party) that stretches from just below the dateline to the bottom of the front page. There are also insets of both Cleveland and Adlai Stevenson. Of curious interest is the lack of a headline or any text.
The condition is worn as was typical with newsprint of the era, and with various archival repairs, but wow, what a wonderful issue for display!
Popular Categories – A Deeper Dive into the Legacies of U.S. Presidents…
May 9, 2022 by LauraH · Leave a Comment
Most people have their favorite President of the United States. I’m sure if we each came up with our short list of five favorites there would be considerable overlap. Washington, Lincoln, Ronald Regan or Barack Obama (depending on which side of the isle the person resides), etc. – each president, popular or otherwise, has their own fascinating history which often includes failure, success, and often a few quirky tidbits of fun facts. The wonderful thing about original newspapers is they give collectors the ability to dig into the more obscure details of the lives and legacies of each of these once-upon-a-time “leaders of the free world”. In fact, newspapers containing such mentions are so sought after, we have a dedicated link on our website to help with the exploration: Presidents (U.S.)
As I began perusing collectible issues related to this post my attention aroused by an interesting story regarding our 37th president, Richard Nixon. To counter-act the ever-growing tension which plagued the latter years of his administration – both Watergate and the “resignation” of his VP, Spiro Agnew, President Nixon nominated a replacement for Agnew whom he knew would be easily and quickly confirmed, but who also believed in his innocence in regard to Watergate – one who would likely pardon him if the need arose. President Gerald Ford, after taking the oath of office upon Nixon’s resignation, did in fact give him an unconditional pardon for any and all crimes he may have committed against the United States. Although this particular use of a Presidential pardon has only occurred once in U.S. History, now that the box has been opened, it likely won’t be the last.
Snapshot 1844 – Voter Fraud… “death by a thousand cuts…”
April 8, 2022 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Political scientist Robert Dahl defines a free and fair election as one in which “coercion” is comparatively uncommon.
Did voter fraud occur in the 2020 U.S. Presidential election? Of course. To think otherwise would be naive. Some degree of fraud has likely occurred in most, if not all elections which involve an imperfect people. This may seem a bit jaded, but I’m actually encouraged by the degree to which most elections in America have been “free and fair”. Still, complaints regarding election fraud have been documented throughout our history. True? In some cases, yes. Enough to impact the final outcome? It’s hard to know.
One such cry came from Louisiana in 1844, and was recorded in the National Intelligencer dated Nov. 30, 1844 (originally printed in the New Orleans Bee). Truth be told, fraud cannot be stopped. However, for the sake of the confidence of the electorate (i.e., to preserve a free and fair election), every intention must be made to keep it to a minimum – while not inhibiting citizens from voting. Balancing both is no small task – but is worth our ongoing effort.
The United States elections – a bumpy walk through time…
December 11, 2020 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
(false report – Rutherford B Hayes won)
The first president of the United States, George Washington, was elected by a unanimous decision in 1789 [the election process started in 1788]. Since then few elections, whether for mayor, governor, president, etc., have sailed on such smooth waters – and the preponderance of elections outside the U.S. have not fared any better. While the privilege and responsibility of citizens of democracies to exercise their right to elect those whom they wish to lead them cannot be understated, the process is often fraught with civic and relational tension. However, once the election is in the rear view mirror, in most instances wounds are eventually healed and sunny skies return – even if it takes months.
We at Rare & Early Newspapers have created a link to our available election-related issues and arranged them in chronological order. There may be a few stray issues which do not belong in the list, but hopefully those who have an interest in such things will appreciate the somewhat tumultuous stroll through time.
Elections Through Time
Did you know? Elections and Inaugurations…
March 26, 2019 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
You may already know U.S. elections and inaugurations have always fascinated citizens of the United States – which is probably typical throughout the world, but Did You Know the reporting of these historic moments within newspapers has traditionally been quite extensive, with most issues containing multiple articles surrounding these events – often including the entire text of the winner’s election and inauguration speeches? Many of these are available through our regular website, RareNewspapers.com. We’ve arranged these in chronological order for readers/explorers to enjoy: Inaugurations and Elections
Snapshot 1864… Washington and Lincoln for President…
August 20, 2018 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
The following snapshot comes from the New York Tribune, November 11, 1864…
The Traveler… the President takes office, again…
March 6, 2017 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today’s travels took me to Springfield, Massachusetts, by the means of the Springfield Republican dated March 6, 1917, where the headlines announce “President Wilson Takes Oath”, “Firm Stand for Armed Neutrality – Nation Poised on Verge of War”. “Woodrow Wilson, with the major part of the world at war and America poised on its verge, consecrated his second inauguration as president of the United States at Washington yesterday with a last message of hope for peace… the president renewed his 
oath of allegiance to the constitution, praying to God that he might be given wisdom and prudence to do his duty in the true spirit of the American people…” Just in case anyone thinks the United States is more politically divided by geographic region today than it was 100 years ago…
~The Traveler
The Traveler… Election tension – should Indiana’s votes be counted?
February 20, 2017 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today’s journey took me to New York City by the means of the New-York Spectator, February 22, 1817. Under the heading of “Congress”, I found the “Votes for President & Vice President” report: “The votes of all of the states having been aloud, with the exception of those of the state of Indiana… One motion of Mr. Jackson, a message was sent to the Senate, informing them that the House of Representatives were ready to proceed, agreeably to the mutual resolution of yesterday, to open and count the votes for President and Vice President of the United States…The reading of the votes was then concluded and the tellers handed a statement thereof to the Present of the Senate… The president of the Senate then declared JAMES MONROE, of Virginia, to be duly elected President of the United States , and DANIEL D. TOMPKINS, of New York, duly elected Vice-President…”. A fair question to ask would certainly be: “Why were Indiana’s votes not included in the oral record?” An appropriate follow-up might be: “Were they eventually included?” If you know the answers off the top of your head, please respond. It sure is a good thing the election wasn’t close enough for Indiana’s votes to make a difference in the final result. However, the decision as to whether or not to include the votes was still an important one in regards to establishing precedent.
~The Traveler