The Boss State Carrier: Blaine – "Can't Carry New York eh – Well I Should Smile"

A vertical political cartoon: A shirtless man with a belt labeled "BLAINE" (James G. Blaine, 1830–1893) carries on his back a ballot box (labeled "New York") stuffed with ballots bearing his name. He trudges on a path leading to the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. (shown in the left background). This print refers to Blaine's unsuccessful Presidential run in 1884.


Nathaniel Currier, whose successful New York-based lithography firm began in 1835, produced thousands of hand-colored prints in various sizes that together create a vivid panorama of mid-to-late nineteenth century American life and its history. People eagerly acquired such lithographs featuring picturesque scenery, rural and city views, ships, railroads, portraits, hunting and fishing scenes, domestic life and numerous other subjects, as an inexpensive way to decorate their homes or business establishments. As the firm expanded, Nathaniel included his younger brother Charles in the business. In 1857, James Merritt Ives (the firm's accountant since 1852 and Charles's brother-in-law) was made a business partner; subsequently renamed Currier & Ives, the firm continued until 1907. The artist of this print is Thomas Worth, a prolific nineteenth-century illustrator who excelled at drawing horses and other subjects, many of which were made into lithographs published by Currier & Ives.