Washington Related
Circa 1806 “Threads of History” Number 39 Page 63 Rare Cotton Linen Kerchief “Papa, I cannot, will not tell a lie!...”
c. 1806, Blue Print on White Cotton Linen Textile Kerchief with a George Washington Parable Theme titled: “THE LOVE OF TRUTH - MARK THE BOY,” Germantown Print Works, “Treads number 39” Framed, Extremely Fine.
This original textile is attractively printed in deep Blue on White Glazed Cotton Linen, having a bold well printed appearance, the fabric is solid with just some unobtrusive scattered tone. This original Printed Textile measures 10.5” x 11.5” nicely framed to an overall size of 12” x 13.25” not inspected out of its frame. Ready for display. There is a Large Illustration at the top half depicting a young George Washington, holding his Axe in his outstretched right hand and the famous Cherry Tree. The verse below explaining to his father the incident from his childhood, which reads, in part:

“At six year old, George, full of boyish tricks, Would often please himself by chopping sticks. A friend, who witnessed oft his favorite sport, Once bought a hatchet of the small sort, And made a present to the darling boy... ‘Papa, I cannot, will not tell a lie! My sharp bright hatchet gave the naughty stroke...”

Parson Weems "invented" the legend of George Washington chopping down his father's cherry tree and then telling the truth when confronted. The moral of this story summarized in the last line of text: "Afterwards the celebrated WASHINGTON." Listed in “Threads of History” as Item 39, page 63 (which shows the example located at Cornell University). This is a rare American well known historic George Washington related Textile. This high quality example being only the second of this design we have ever offered, and the first in Blue as the other was printed in Brown and in lesser quality, back in 2005. This superior specimen the very First and Finest we have offered, printed in blue.