1841 William Henry Harrison Silk Mourning Ribbon

PoliticalScarce William Henry Harrison Silk Mourning Ribbon

1841 "Our Nation Mourns A Hero Gone": William Henry Harrison Silk Mourning Ribbon, Choice Extremely Fine.
A 8.5" x 3" cream-colored silk ribbon, framed under glass to 13" x 5.5", with cut-away mat to view both sides of the ribbon. Sullivan/Fischer WHH-M6a. Mourning ribbon for William Henry Harrison features an ornate design, replete with an urn on a plinth with weeping willow sprouting from the urn, on which leans a portrait of the late president flanked by American flags. Above the urn is an eagle holding a banner: "OUR NATION MOURNS A HERO GONE", while below are six lines of text detailing a brief biography of Harrison. The bottom half of the ribbon, below a black mourning bar, features an illustration of a horse-drawn fire pumper with the inscription "PROTECTION..." The reverse has a lengthier description of Harrison's life and accomplishments. Some light fading is evident, and staining to the mat, otherwise well-preserved. A very rare type, a great find.

When Harrison took office in 1841 at the age of 67, he was the oldest man to be elected President, a record that stood for 140 years, until Ronald Reagan was elected in 1980. Harrison died exactly one month into his term—the briefest presidency before or since.