Teddy Roosevelt's "Square Deal"

On my Bullmoose Journal blog for October 2, 2006, I posted a picture of one of my favorite Theodore Roosevelt campaign items. This pin is 7/8" in diameter, but at least one exists that is 1 1/4 inches in diameter. The pin is pretty rare; I have only seen 2 or 3 in over 55 years of collecting. This one has it all--the picture, the date, the slogan, and even a carpenter's square to emphasize the slogan. In his 1912 Progressive Party campaign, Roosevelt offered "a square deal for every man and for every woman in the United States."

About six years ago, another pin with a carpenter's square on it showed up. It is also 7/8 inch diameter. This one bears the name Parker. Alton B. Parker was Roosevelt's opponent in the 1904 campaign. The phrase "square deal" has always been attributed to Roosevelt. But Alton Parker apparently used the carpenter's square first, albeit without the slogan. Except for the handful of these pins that appeared in 2002, to my knowledge it has not been seen before or since.

This "square deal" pin is a lot more common. It is 7/8 inch diameter, and was used in the 1912 campaign. Almost every collector of TR campaign items has this one.

Here is a fourth "square deal" pin. It is also 7/8 inch diameter. I found it on eBay a while back. It is the only one like it that I have seen. The seller probably did not even see the meaning, let alone consider it a campaign item. It can only mean "square deal," and is probably a Theodore Roosevelt campaign pin.

If you have a "square deal" pin that is different from these, please post a comment about it.

Admiral Nelson Again

In my other blog, Bullmoose Journal, I posted an entry about a character jug, depicting Admiral Horatio Nelson, that I acquired. I have been fortunate enough to win another item, an antique Staffordshire pitcher, relating to the Admiral.

The pitcher is about 7 inches tall. The images on it depict both Lord Nelson and Captain Hardy, who commanded HMS Victory at the battle, although the crude depictions bear little resemblence to the famous officers. It was probably made in the early nineteenth century.

It's not hard to find items commemmorating the achievements of Admiral Nelson. Many were produced in 2005 in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the famous battle. But I prefer the older ones. That's why I was attracted to this pitcher.

I may be able to date the piece more accurately if I can identify the pottery mark on the bottom of the pitcher. It looks to me like a stylized "JC."

If someone knows something about the pitcher or the pottery mark, please post a comment.