From Rail-splitter to Icon : Lincoln's Illustrated Periodical Image, 1860-1865

Cartoon images of Abraham Lincoln fom the 19th century can increase our understanding of opinion towards Lincoln, the dynamics of Civil War, popular art and culture, the media, political caricature, and presidential politics. This text is a history of the development of Lincoln's public profile.

A copiously illustrated history of the development of Lincoln''s public profile. From Rail-Splitter to Icon is enriched by editorial, news, poetic, and satirical content from contemporary periodicals artfully woven into a topical narrative. The Lincoln images, originally appearing in such publications as Budget of Fun, Comic Monthly, New York Illustrated News, Phunny Phellow, Southern Punch, and Yankee Notions, significantly expand our understanding of the evolution of public opinion toward Lincoln, the complex dynamics of Civil War, popular art and culture, the media, political caricature, and presidential politics. Because of the timely emergence and proliferation of the illustrated periodical, and the convergence of representational technology and sectional conflict, no previous president could have been pictured so fully. But Lincoln also appealed to illustrators because of his distinctive physical features. (One could scarcely conceive of a similar book on James Buchanan, his immediate predecessor.) Despite ever-improving techniques, Lincoln pictorial prominence competed favorably with any succeeding president in the nineteenth century.