Abraham Lincoln as “The Federal Phenix” — Punch, December 3, 1864
Wood-engraved political cartoon
Frame: 12¼ x 9¾ in.; sight: 10¼ x 7¾ in.
 
A Civil War–era political cartoon titled The Federal Phenix, published in Punch, or The London Charivari (London), December 3, 1864. The allegorical image depicts a phoenix rising from flames with the head of Abraham Lincoln, its breast bearing a shield of stars and stripes. The composition symbolizes the resilience and renewal of the United States during the final year of the Civil War. Beneath the rising figure, smoldering banners reference the upheaval of the conflict and the political forces consumed in its course.
 
Punch was among the most influential illustrated satirical journals of the nineteenth century, and its cartoons frequently addressed international affairs. The American Civil War was a subject of particular interest to British audiences, making such engravings notable examples of contemporary European commentary on American events.
 
Condition: Excellent.