"Tammany Hall Will Whip Creation This Fall." Hercules Morrissey. "Stand aside, Boys; I'll show you what Muscle can do."
New York: Harper's Weekly, 1873.
Woodcut. Page measures 15 3/4" x 11"
A full page political cartoon from the cover of the November 1, 1873 edition of Harper's Magazine. The illustration features Irish-American politician John Morrissey, a bare-knuckle boxing champion and professional gambler whose political career was backed by Tammany Hall. He served as New York Congressman from 1867-1871, before falling out with the Tammany political machine and serving as New York State Senator from 1876-1878 on an anti-Tammany platform. He was a key figure in the fall of Tammany Hall, testifying against William Tweed in a case that ultimately led to Tweed's incarceration.
This cartoon depicts Morrissey addressing personifications of major newsprints. Nast is satirizing the domination of brute force over intellect in politics at the time. Minor wear to margins.
Thomas Nast was a political cartoonist and illustrator; credited with devising elephant and donkey symbols of Republican and Democratic parties, and with creating American image of Santa Claus. He largely featured Catholicism and the papacy in Rome, Irish-Americans, and corrupt Democratic politicians (namely Boss Tweed and the Tammany Hall institution). This is a great example of his work.
Binding: Unbound
Language: English
Price: $50.00
Item #328232