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[Identification of item], James Cartoons Posters, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
The James Cartoons Posters were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2010.
Processed by Meghan Lyon, October 2010
Encoded by Meghan Lyon, October 2010
Accession 2010-0099 is described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory:
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
Accessions included in this finding aid: 2010-0099
The New Process Electro Corporation was based in the Times Building, on Broadway at 42nd Street in New York City. Its president was Charles C. James, who also served as president of the James Investment Company (St. Louis, Mo.) and the Paramount Advertising Corporation. Dates and operations for the New Process Electro Corporation are not known, other than it appears to have been active from at least 1913 through 1921, the date of this collection's latest cartoon.
Collection of 14 political posters created as part of the James Cartoons series by the New Process Electro Corporation in New York. The posters, which appear to be by an anonymous artist, were originally part of a subscription available for $1.25 per week. The posters in this collection are all from Volume 7 of the series, dating from 1920-1921.
The posters are chromolithographs, each sized 21.5 x 31 inches. Their condition is good but fragile, as their fold lines and some marginal tears require careful handling.
Subjects include foreign policy, especially post-World War I Europe and U.S. attitudes towards the League of Nations; the 1920 presidential election between Warren G. Harding and James M. Cox; and financial topics such as Germany's war debts, coal shortages in the United States, and the Ponzi scheme. The artist uses caricatures to represent political figures or ideas; for example, the country of Russia is regularly shown as an angry bear, while Germany is a toothless dachsund. The election-themed posters often incorporate a donkey and an elephant representing each political party, usually accompanying the various candidates who are engaged in some sort of competition. The 14 poster titles have been captioned below, along with a brief description of the events being portrayed by the artist.
Posters are arranged chronologically in two oversize folders.
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
At a fair booth, the GOP elephant aims for targets representing the country's problems, including labor troubles, prohibition, and League of Nations disputes. Woodrow Wilson and the Democrat donkey watch.
The Democrats and GOP sail away while the Third Party's sailboat loses its wind.
Russia (an angry bear) heads towards Germany (a dachsund on a leash) while other European countries look on.
Russia (an angry bear) tries to chase Poland (a farmer), who is trapped at the top of a tree. Other European powers roll a Blockade (a boulder) in front of the tree.
At his magic show, Ponzi the magician is hauled offstage by Uncle Sam.
Lower classes enjoy chauffered rides and fancy clothes while America's richest citizens stand in line.
Russia (an angry bear) uses a bayonet to poke Civilization (a beehive) while the rest of Europe watches.
Presidential candidates James M. Cox and Warren G. Harding whitewash and mud-sling a book, representing the League of Nations.
Democrats and Republicans play football, with the League of Nations serving as the ball.
The Coal Trust turns away the American general public while selling at a higher rate to coal-starved Europe.
At the races, Democratic presidential candidate James M. Cox (on his donkey-pulled chariot) is shown losing to Republican candidate Warren G. Harding (on his elephant).
Americans parade with their winning and losing bets following the presidential election.
German war payments flood towards France and England, who say that it is not enough.
A family prepares for warmer weather and exhibits signs of spring fever.