Tag: liberal-conservative

Last week I discussed collecting actual election items from Sir John A. Macdonald and his party.  Next week I’ll look at more contemporary items (as well as giving a sneak peak of how you’re going to want to spend his 200th birthday).  This week, I’m going to look at items from his life that are not election related.

The most common item, and easiest to collect is the Sir John A. Macdonald photo.  Numerous photos exist from the various stages of his career and life.  The original cabinet photo/cdv photo, while not common, are the most popular.  Macdonald usually posed for these.  At the very least, he was in the room when they were taken.  Also included in this group would be the stereocard of Sir John A.  These usually went out without any consultation.  The photo was usually purchased and then transferred to the card.  The went out without his knowledge.

The event ticket, or invitation is another great item.  Sir John A. Macdonald was a popular speaker.  Many times, printed tickets and/or invitations were produced for the events.  Sometimes, the organizers even included a picture of Macdonald.  As with actual election items, souvenir ribbons were also produced for some of these events.  If you’re looking to start a Sir John A. Macdonald collection, the items in this category are a great place to start as they are usually the least expensive.

From the least expensive, to the most expensive.  Hand written letters and other autographed items.  About ten years ago, these items sold for $400-600 Canadian.  Then, suddenly, a person purchased a cut signature (a stand alone signature that has been cut from another item) for $7800 American.  A few months after that, a hand written letter sold at a live auction in the Maritimes for $34 000 Canadian.  Not long after that, a collection of letters sold in the UK for over $250 000.  Suddenly, the values skyrocketed.  I would argue, justifiably so.  All of these items were held in Sir John A. Macdonald’s hand.  More importantly, they are all one of a kind.  You can still sometimes get his signature at a much lower price, but it does not happen as often as it once did (or as I often as I would like, as a collector).

Do you have any Sir John A. Macdonald items from his life time in your collection?  If so, tell me about it in the comment section.  Also, please post photos in the Shoppe’s Favourites page on Facebook.  I have already posted an original photo.

To see Sir John A. Macdonald items currently available CLICK HERE!

With Canadians about to celebrate the 199th birthday of  our first Prime Minister, Sir John Alexander Macdonald on Saturday, January 11, I thought that it would be fun to bookend the party with a discussion on how one might collect items pertaining to the father of our country.  Part 1 will be a discussion of election materials.  Part 2 will be a discussion of other Macdonald era items that can be found.  I’ll extend the bookend with a part 3 which will look at more contemporary uses of his image and name.  Plus, at the end of part 3 I will give a sneak peak of how you should celebrate his 200th birthday (trust me…you won’t want to miss it).

His last election in 1891 was 3 years before the invention of the “pinback button”.  However, that doesn’t mean that there still aren’t ways to have a piece of Macdonald in your collection.

Prior to the 1896 election (the first with pinbacks), parties still produced election material.  This is area that’s the most fun to collect…actual Sir John A. (National Liberal-Conservative party) election material.

The most common item produced was posters.  Over the course of Macdonald’s campaigns numerous posters were made.  Some focused on the leader, while others focused on candidates.  Some times, they looked at policy issues.  For the most part, they were larger than contemporary posters (after all, they were the primary source of promotion for the parties).

Ribbons were another popular item.  Just like posters, they were produced with the leader and with candidates.  Another area where they were popular, just as with buttons today, was for specific events.  A group or person holding an event with an appearance by Macdonald, sometimes produced a souvenir ribbon.

Just like today, parties produced pamphlets.  They could be for a local campaign, the provincial organization or the national campaign.  Regardless, the party would always include a picture of the leader, Sir John A. Macdonald.

Medals (coins) are the other election related material that one can associate with the elections.  Prior to buttons, parties produced medals to advocate for their candidates and leaders.  Finding original Sir John A. Macdonald election medals, especially where they use his likeness, is always a treat.

Do you have any Sir John A. Macdonald election items in your collection?  If so, tell me about it in the comment section.  Also, please post photos in the Shoppe’s Favourites album on Facebook.

To see Sir John A. Macdonald items currently available CLICK HERE.