Suspect Lincoln: Illinois: Land of Bogus Lincoln

An Illinois vendor listed an unusual Grant campaign ribbon on eBay in August 2011. Measuring 2 3/4” x 6”, it had a photographic portrait of Grant on green silk with the slogan “Let Us Have Peace.” Based on several factors, including the style and font of the lettering, we concluded it was not a legitimate 1868 or 1872 campaign item, but a later reproduction or re-enactment piece. The vendor disclaimed any expertise in the field of political Americana and advised bidders who were not totally confident in the item to refrain from bidding. This should have been a “red flag”. The auction continued apace and bidding rose to $238. Prior to auction’s end, however, the listing was terminated for unspecified reasons. We heard through the grapevine that the termination took place very shortly after someone who had just seen the listing connected it to a fake Debs ribbon that he had purchased thirty days before. After he filed a dispute with eBay and communicated with the seller of the Debs ribbon, the Grant ribbon was abruptly withdrawn. The vendor of the Grant ribbon, we are told, continued to try to unload it, offering it to at least one of the underbidders.

In the course of two months or less, three dubious ribbons were listed on eBay by Illinois vendors with two different user names. One was the Lincoln discussed “In the Marketplace” which we picture again here. Another was a Debs ribbon allegedly from 1900. The third was the Grant ribbon. We also picture a “Menard County Republicans for Lincoln & Hamlin” ribbon that is simply no good. Part of a midwest collection, it shares several characterisitcs with all the ribbons mentioned; namely, muddy or indistinct portrait and type fonts and design that don’t conform to accepted examples. We can only urge our fellow-hobbyists to thoroughly familiarize themselves with accepted specimens so that they may readily recognize non-period pieces. We don’t know if the sellers are knowlingly selling bogus material, but extreme caution is advised.