c. 1764/65 Exceedingly Rare American Colonial Satirical Political Pro Benjamin Franklin Election Cartoon Braodside held in the “Old Court” or, “Great Towne House” in Philadelphia, the Only Election Benjamin Franklin Ever Lost, attributed to the noted engraver Henry Dawkins, Framed, Portions lacking, Fine.
This Pro Benjamin Franklin Engraved Political Broadside Cartoon is one of the earliest American Satirical created engravings of Voting in America. It is Satirizing a hotly contested campaign for seats in the Pennsylvania Assembly, in which Presbyterians unseated Benjamin Franklin and the Quaker Party. Attributed to Engraver Henry Dawkins, who created such Satirical Engraved Images for both opposing sides of the hotly contested 1764 Pennsylvania Election. The Presbyterians Unseated Benjamin Franklin (in the Only Election he ever Lost) and the Quaker Party with which Franklin was affiliated. This historic French and Indian War era cartoon shows the Old Courthouse in Philadelphia during the October 1, 1764 election. This engraving has Colonial political importance connected to “The Paxton Uprising and the Gendering of Civic Culture in Colonial Pennsylvania.”

This Broadside engraving shows a line of men waiting at the steps on the right to enter the courthouse and cast their votes. In the foreground, many men, including several Clergymen and one Female Slave among them, are shown commenting on the candidates and discussing their parties, politics, and religion, as well as referencing other current events and social or political organizations, such as the "White Oaks." The term "Scurrilily" refers to vulgar or abusive language, reflecting the nature of the satirical attack.

A “Black Servant” is shown reassuring his Master that he will take care of his "toes", as two other Black Boys converse together. Includes a lengthy "medley" of verses being sung to a variety of tunes popular at the time. Portions of loss to the engraving primarily at lower right as shown. Handwritten small information sheet penned on the verso. Professionally archival framed and viewable 19 3/4” x 15 1/2” (by sight) shown under special UV Plexiglas, fully framed to 24” X 20” and ready to hang on display. This historic political engraved Broadside regarding voting in America and involving Benjamin Franklin is lacking in virtually all institutional and private collections. A unique opportunity.

Provenance: Ex Bourgeault-Horan Antiquarians, Portsmouth, NH, August 19, 2018, where it sold for $4,200; PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF AMBASSADOR J. WILLIAM MIDDENDORF II
The election of 1764 engraved Broadside is a "The election, a medley, humbly inscribed to Squire Lilliput, Professor of Scurrility," is a political cartoon and printed Broadside created in Philadelphia in 1764 by Henry Dawkins, possibly based on the work of Rev. Isaac Hunt.

This print is a pro-Franklin cartoon depicting a scene at the Philadelphia courthouse during the Pennsylvania Assembly Election of October 1764. The cartoon features white men casting their votes, while others, including clergy, servants, and enslaved people, observe and comment on the candidates and contemporary issues.

The cartoon also includes caricatures of satirist James Dove, who is referred to in the title as "Squire Lilliput Professor of Scurrility". The work serves as a response to Dove's anti-Franklin print, "The Paxton Expedition". The term "Scurrilily" refers to vulgar or abusive language, reflecting the nature of the satirical attack.

The cartoon includes 33 verses, attributed to Isaac Hunt, intended to be sung to various tunes. The work supports Benjamin Franklin's appointment as a provincial agent to Britain, despite his loss in the 1764 election, which was partly linked to his interactions with the "Paxton Boys". The cartoon also contains commentary from enslaved people, referencing an earlier anti-Dove cartoon. You can find more information about this historical document through the Library of Congress and the Library Company of Philadelphia Digital Collections.
[Colonial America, French and Indian War, Pennsylvania] [Benjamin Franklin, Elections and Inaugurations, African American History] [Broadsides, Engravings, Political Ephemera]