Beschreibung:

Wonderful ca 1909 hand-stitched and colored textile featuring "Billy Possum," (William H. Taft), seated on a chair, interacting with "Teddy Bear" (Theodore Roosevelt), who is holding a rifle in one hand and a fringed bag in the other, with the following quote stitched at bottom: "Said Billy Possum to Teddy Bear: You Go Hunting, I'll Fill the Chair." With his finger pointing toward the open door, "Billy Possum" is directing "Teddy Bear" outside, where an orange flag labeled Africa leads to a mountainous landscape in the background. A small, orange sign hanging beside the door is stitched with the following: 4 Years Lease to Billy Possum From Uncle Sam. 16.5 x 17.25 in. (sight), framed, 21.25 x 21.75 in. While many are aware of the origin of the "Teddy Bear," which was named after Theodore Roosevelt as a result of a famous story describing his supposed mercy toward an old bear that he encountered while hunting in Mississippi, the origin of William Howard Taft's mascot, "Billy Possum," is not as widely known. Taft, who was Theodore Roosevelt's preferred Presidential successor in 1908, was a reserved and conservative candidate in contrast with Roosevelt, who was extremely outgoing. Up until 1909, Taft gave political humorists and cartoonists little to work with, but this all changed when he attended a dinner in Georgia where he was served possum. He was quoted on that evening in early 1909 as saying that he was "for possum, first, last, and all the time." This statement took on a life of its own, leading to the birth of "Billy Possum." Cartoonists portrayed Taft as a possum, and the character also appeared on a variety of toys, china, campaign pins and other printed campaign ephemera. This is an excellent, never-before-seen example promoting the transition from Roosevelt to Taft in the White House. Provenance: Jim and Pat Gifford Collection of Political Americana Condition: Some scattered scratching on frame.