Bidspirit auction | Framed 1832 George Washington Centennial

Framed 1832 George Washington Centennial Commemorative Printed Linen Handkerchief and Inscribed Wood Panel - This lot features a framed historical display comprising a printed linen commemorative handkerchief and an associated wooden panel with provenance inscriptions. The textile was produced to commemorate the 1832 centennial of the birth of George Washington. The central composition depicts Washington standing in formal attire with a sword, positioned between two columns under a draped curtain motif bearing the headers THE EFFECT OF PRINCIPLE and BEHOLD THE MAN. The left side of the handkerchief contains a multi-paragraph excerpt from Washington's Farewell Address, while the right side provides biographical information including his birth and death dates. Three vignettes at the bottom show an American eagle with a shield, a sailing ship labeled COMMERCIAL UNION, and a resting lion with a flag labeled THE BRITISH LION. The display includes a wooden panel, likely the original backing, which bears a handwritten ink inscription reading to E B Norton in 1833. A modern printed label is affixed to the wood stating the item was purchased from the Belmanno Cottage consignment sale on November 6, 2013, and was previously owned by Mrs. Walker. The items are mounted within a modern wooden frame with a wide mat and a professional wire hanger on the reverse. Frame height: 18.5 inches Frame width: 32.25 inches. The printed linen shows significant age-related browning, foxing, and staining throughout. There are several small holes and frayed areas visible, particularly along the margins and within the printed text fields, though the printing remains legible. The wooden panel exhibits surface wear, scratches, abrasions, and a small circular hole near the center. The modern frame shows minor surface wear but is structurally sound.