1909 Teddy Roosevelt Billiken Statue Postcard While on African Trip W/ Big Stick

Description: This standard sized postcard is a real photo variety and it was sent to Nevada City, California on 07/20/1909. After his successor, William Howard Taft was sworn in as president on March 4, 1909, Theodore Roosevelt went on an extended tour of Africa. While he was away, the "Ullman M.F.G. Co. N.Y." produced this card in 1909 which is based on a Billiken, so popular at the time. TR had used the African expression, "Speak softly and carry a big stick" way before this tour, but this cute statue of a "Teddiken" has that "bwano tumbo" club securely in in grasp. According to online research, The Billiken is a charm doll created by an American art teacher and illustrator, Florence Pretz of Kansas City, Missouri, who is said to have seen the mysterious figure in a dream. It is believed that Pretz found the name Billiken in Bliss Carman 's 1896 poem Mr. Moon: A Song Of The Little People. In 1908, she obtained a design patent on the ornamental design of the Billiken, which she sold to the Billiken Company of Chicago. The Billiken was elephant-like with pointed ears, a mischievous smile and a tuft of hair on his pointed head. His arms were short and he was generally sitting with his legs stretched out in front of him. Billiken is known as "The God of Things As They Ought to Be." To buy a Billiken was said to give the purchaser luck, but to have one given would be better luck. The image was copyrighted and a trademark was put on the name. After a few years of popularity, the Billiken faded into obscurity. Because of that craze, there are Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and William Jennings Bryan Billiken postcards for political collectors to acquire since they were active when all this nonsense started. (Could we be describing Billikens or politicians?) This is in nice condition but please enlarge our images to judge condition for yourself so you can be happy with your purchase. We are members of APIC and sell only authentic presidential (and other collectible) material so buy with confidence. We'll be happy to combine S & H costs on multiple purchases even though eBay says we won't. We just issue a refund for any overpayment. Shipping on this will be $5.50 carefully packaged, first class with tracking. 7763 We returned from the northeastern part of the U.S. where we purchased another top-notch political postcard collection from a life-long specialist and friend. PLUS we're still selling out of of the collection of our mid-west friend! Since many of their cards are duplicates of our own, we feel it is important to offer them back into the collector market, so that others continue having the fun of discovery and pride of ownership that we three have experienced over the decades. Hopefully you can find a gem or two to add to your own collection, so check our eBay store over time for this great opportunity for adding to your collection. Our collecting interests fall into all categories of presidential campaign material, but postcards remain at the top of the list. Like buttons, their graphics can be spectacular. But they have the added advantage of being able to contain a lot more of it with much more diverse art. They may relate to a specific person or event or articulate opposing campaign slogans. Many can be "mated-up" with an example for another candidate: the 1912 pennant cards have seemingly endless color combinations, images and slogans so you'll never have them all, which keeps your quest alive. Some have "coat-tails" and are geographically specific or contain "hopefuls" or are from an person's early career. One can simply collect their favorite candidate. In history, the 1908 election occurred at the height of the overall postcard craze by the public, so one can acquire a massive collection for that year alone. Cards can be one-of-a-kind real photos, printed photos or lithographs while others are part of an set. Some are cross-collectibles involving baseball, other sports, artists, causes or holidays. They can show one or more candidates - often even the opposing candidates - which one rarely finds on pins. Just remember this: if it doesn't have a printed place for a stamp and an address or wasn't machine-mailed like most modern examples, by definition it ISN'T a postcard. Having it used through the mail confirms its history (if you're worried about reproductions) and adds to its depth. Be aware that condition may be part of the mailing: it's important and can affect the value. But being obsessed and possessed like many button fanatics over obtaining perfect condition examples can be time wasted from the joy of collecting. Cards are much more personal than pins. You know they were handled, way back when, and are also meant to be today (using care). If folding or mechanical, they MUST be touched and worked to fully appreciate them. Many backs contain a political message or show a postmark nailing down a small town or date. Some show a particular moment in American history: a meeting of great individuals or the last days or hours of a person - often the president. Others then show the early days of his successor. Pins don't often show that. Many cards have anti-cartoons - their great, artwork barbs and blurbs are classic political fun; sarcastic, creative, witty and sometimes suggestive, as being rendered by the famous or not-so. Pro-examples can gush enthusiastically. Some reflect America's socially or racially questionable past from which we may learn. Others show an obscure candidate and were printed in rather limited numbers. Postcard evolution from the late 19th-century to the oversize mailers of today can be displayed in one tray. Can you tell we love 'em! Therefore, we're listing a broad selection to pique your interest and show what we mean about how great, diverse and wonderful these relatively affordable political collectibles are. Most of all, have fun with them. Postcards were meant to be FUN.

Price: 75 USD

Location: Beverly Hills, Florida

End Time: 2024-12-01T11:35:10.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5.5 USD