1908 Lincoln Douglas Debates Semi-Centennial Celebration Poster Alton Illinois

Date: 1908
Artist: Unknown
Size (in): 42” x 28”
Size (cm): 106.7 x 71.1
Condition: C
Linen backed: No

This is an original antique broadside poster issued for the 1908 Semi-Centennial Celebration of the Lincoln Douglas Debate at Alton, Illinois. Alton was the site of the last of seven Lincoln Douglas Debates held on October 15, 1858. The six prior debates were held in different towns around the state of Illinois with the first debate held in Ottawa on August 21, 1858. This poster lists Stephen A. Douglas, Jr., the Little Giant’s namesake and eldest son, as a speaker at the event but he never attended as he had passed away from a sudden heart attack on October 8th of that year. The lower margin indicates this broadside was printed by the Mook Bros. of Alton, Illinois.

This broadside is printed one side only and was issued folded. The broadside is rather fragile with chips and nicks resulting in paper loss along edges not affecting the text. The former owner applied several pieces of tape to the back of the poster and there is separation of several inches along one of the vertical fold lines at the bottom of the poster. A Worldcat search locates programs from this event but no posters and none are traced at auction.