1898.] SACHSE — AX OLD BROADSIDE. 45 



AN OLD BROADSIDE, WITH A REFERENCE TO THE 

 THRONE OF CONGRESS. 



(Plate IV.) 



BY JULIUS F. SACHSE. 



(Mead January 21, 1898. ) 



A short time ago our efficient Librarian, Dr. I. Minis Hays, during 

 his investigations among the miscellaneous property of the Society, 

 discovered a bundle of old papers which bore the legend, " Of not 

 much value." Upon opening the parcel almost the first paper ex- 

 amined proved to be a small German broadside over a century old. 

 It was printed upon what is known as a quarto sheet, measuring 

 seven by nine inches ; it was without date or imprint, and the title 

 simply told that it was a description of a silk serviette or handker- 

 chief. Certainly not one to attract any special attention. Closer 

 examination, however, showed that this advertisement or broadside 

 was really the description of a fine specimen of the weaver's art, exe- 

 cuted in silk damask or brocade, which had been made and dis- 

 tributed either in France or Germany, or perhaps in both countries, 

 during the darkest days of the American struggle for freedom, with 

 the express purpose of furthering America's interests in her battle 

 for liberty. 



The whole design appears to have been elaborate and symbolical, 

 in which the portrait of Benjamin Franklin, Minister to the Court 

 of France and President of the American Philosophical Society, 

 occupied the most prominent position. 



Diligent inquiry among scholars well versed in Revolutionary 

 matters, both historical and pictorial, has failed in bringing to 

 light any other notice of either the broadside or the allegorical 

 handkerchief which was the basis for its publication ; and it is but 

 fair to assume that the printed sheet now brought to your notice, to 

 say the least, is unique. The date of the making of our serviette, 

 as it appears from the incidents and inscriptions woven in the 

 fabric, must have been during the summer of 1778, evidently but a 

 short time after the news of the British evacuation of Philadelphia 

 reached the continent. 



Another peculiarity of it is that it is couched in that peculiar kind 

 of German, largely interspersed with French words and sentences. 



