1892 Harrison-Reid & Cleveland-Stevenson “Take Your Choice” Campaign Advertising Broadsheet

1892 Harrison-Reid & Cleveland-Stevenson “Take Your Choice” Campaign Advertising Broadsheet. An unusual and wonderfully clever piece of presidential campaign-era advertising issued by J. C. Haynes & Co. of Boston, dealers in band instruments and musical goods.

Rather than risk alienating half its customers by choosing a political side, Haynes  & Ditson & Co, enthusiastically embraces both! The upper portion features engraved portraits of Republican President Benjamin Harrison and Democratic challenger Grover Cleveland, accompanied by the competing slogans “Hurrah for Harrison and Reid!” and “Hurrah for Cleveland and Stevenson!”

Between them appears the wonderfully diplomatic instruction:

“TAKE YOUR CHOICE. We don’t want to influence your vote, only your patronage for the various BAND INSTRUMENTS, &c., that you will need for the coming political Fight.” The piece is likley of interest to both political and music instructment  collectors

The advertisement then gets down to business, soliciting requests for its campaign catalogue and promising “THE BEST GOODS! THE LOWEST PRICES!” The reverse is devoted entirely to beautifully illustrated band instruments—including drums, cymbals, fifes, brass instruments and a cornet—with individual catalogue numbers and prices.

The concept is particularly appealing: essentially a 19th-century political version of the old salesman’s or bartender’s rule never to argue politics with a customer. Whether Republican or Democrat won the election, J. C. Haynes & Co. was quite happy to sell the victorious—and defeated—campaign bands their instruments.

Measures approximately 7 7/8" x 10 5/8". An exceptionally interesting crossover piece combining 1892 presidential campaign memorabilia, period advertising, and American musical history. We have handled political memorabilia for many years and do not recall previously encountering another example of this particular advertising broadsheet. Original, of course.