Billy Possum President Taft Nation\'s Choice artist signed Lounsbury 1909
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Billy Possum President Taft Nation\'s Choice artist signed Lounsbury 1909:
$33.99
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Beginning next week and until mid-January Iwill be cutting back on my sales so we all can spend more time withfamily and friends. My sale site mayeven be “dark” for a week or so in mid-December. For those who may suffer circus, expo orpossum withdrawal, I will list a few postcards just to give you something tolook at.
In 35 years of collecting Billy Possum, I was only able to acquire 3 of the 4 Lounsbury postcards in this blue Series 2517. I have already offered 2 of the cards at sale, this card is the 3rd and final one I have of this series. The title is \"The Nation\'s Choice\", shows Uncle Sam proudly standing between possums marked \"Billy Possum\" and \"Jimmie Possum\". Series Number 2517-4. Artist signed by Fred Lounsbury. Lounsbury did two series of Billy Possum: Series 2515 (tan) and Series 2517 (blue color), both sets contain 4 postcards, published 1909. Used 1909. Condition very good+ color is fresh, this card is in the best condition I have ever found this series. I don\'t normally mention a card\'s value but this card in lesser condition will often command over $100, I paid $100 for this card over 20 years ago. I\'m sorry for putting it up for sale so close to the holidays, but its time has come. Make it a once-in-a-lifetime gift for yourself or that collector in your life. Roy Nuhn, noted postcard author, collector and dealer, in his article \"The Saga of Billy Possum\" calls this blue color series \"EXTREMELY RARE\".Billy Possum is thecaricature of William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United States. The postcardsof the 1909-1910 era are considered in the political area of collecting. There are several stories about this caricatureand its history, some conflicting. Thegeneral consensus is that after his election as President (beating DemocratWilliam Jennings Bryant), but before his inauguration, the Billy Possumcaricature began. Its roots are tracedback to Taft’s attendance in January 1909 at a banquet in Atlanta Georgia where a large possum and taters (potatoes) wereserved. The next day, Taft expressed tothe press his pleasure of dining on possum the night before. A cartoon then appeared in the AtlantaConstitution newspaper showing Taft holding a possum that says to Teddy Roosevelt“Beat it Teddy Bear”. It is alsoimportant to note that cuddly stuffed animals were very popular at this time,especially the Teddy Bear attributed to Theodore Roosevelt’s popularity. A wide range of Billy Possum postcards,books, banks, coins, buttons, stuffed animals, and other memorabilia wereoffered in the commercial market in hopes of dislodging the Teddy Bear image. Little of this memorabilia was released after1910, as both the possum and Taft lacked the appeal of the Teddy Bear and Roosevelt. Even shorter lived was JimmiePossum, named after James Sherman, Taft’s Vice President.
This is1 of many Billy Possum postcards that I will be offering on as I amselling my 35-year collection ofpostcards. Abbreviations: rppc = real photo postcard,est. = estimate my best guess, used = postal used, unused = not postal used but may have written message. Winner pays$1.85 postage and handling cost. Multiple sale wins on a combined invoice and paid with a single combined PayPal payment, and shipped together in 1 package will receive a reduction in total postage cost when possible.
Billy Possum President Taft Nation\'s Choice artist signed Lounsbury 1909:
$33.99