Lot 521: United Confederate Veterans 11th Annual Reunion Chromolithograph, Memphis 1901

Souvenir United Confederate Veterans (UCV) chromolithograph poster titled “Heroes and Leaders of the Civil War – Let Us Have Peace” published by Peter Tracy, Memphis, Tennessee, 1901. Issued for the occasion of the United Confederate Veterans Eleventh Annual Reunion in Memphis, TN, May 28-29, 1901. Depicts Generals Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) and Ulysses S.Grant (1822-1885), 18th President of the United States (1869-77), reenacting the conclusion of the “Surrender Meeting” at Appomattox Court House (April 9, 1865) in a Neoclassical setting in uniform, flanked by the numbers “61” and “65”, representing the duration of the Civil War. Behind them are each of their respective armies at attention with a Revolutionary War soldier, left, and a Spanish-American War soldier, right. The scene is surrounded by labeled vignettes of Confederate officers, including a central portrait of Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest situated between flags of both Armies, Rear-Admiral Raphael Semmes, and Admiral David G. Farragut. Additional names of officers and excerpts of Confederate poetry by Theodore O’Hara (1820-1867) and The Rev. Abram Joseph Ryan (1838-1886) appear on the main arch and left and right pillars. Housed under glass in a black and gilt painted frame. Sight – 20 3/8″ H x 26 1/2″ W. Framed – 25 3/8″ H x 31 1/2″ W.

Note: In 1901, Memphis hosted the eleventh Annual National Reunion of the United Confederate Veterans, the largest reunion ever held. The citizens of Memphis raised an astonishing $80,000 to construct an 18,000 seat Confederate Hall on the site of Confederate Park – the building to be demolished at the end of the reunion. One of the largest single donations ($1,000) came from the first black millionaire Robert Reed Church. The three-day reunion celebration culminated in a parade of 15,000 veterans through city streets draped in bunting and flags. The Commercial Appeal called it “the most imposing spectacle ever witnessed in the South.” As part of those festivities, 12,000 people attended the Confederate Ball hosted by the Forrest Camp in Confederate Hall. (courtesy historicmemphis.com/memphis-historic/ucv/ucv.html)

CONDITION: Overall very good condition within image area, with strong colors. Scattered foxing throughout. With 6-inch L and 3-inch L vertical creases to upper left, both with related marginal tears without losses, plus scattered marginal tears and minor losses along edges, largest 2-inch x 5/16-inch area of center-left margin and 1 1/2-inch x 3/8-inch area of center-right margin. Repaired tear with minor, 1/4-inch x 3/16-inch loss to right leg of Grant. Dog-ear crease to upper-right corner and marginal dampstaining along lower edge.