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Death of the "Gerrymander"...
Item # 586947
April 7, 1813
COLUMBIAN CENTINEL, Boston, April 7, 1813 Page 2 has an usual but fitting "portrait" commemorating the death of the Gerrymander, a political maneuver used to reshape voting districts in order to favor a political party. This devise was named for Elbridge Gerry, the former governor of Massachusetts, and Vice President of the United States from 1813 until the following year when he died in office.
The article is headed: "The Great Magician's Dead ! " and begins: "We announce in our paper of today, we confess with no great regret, the DEATH of that far-famed, and ill-begotten Monster the GERRY-MANDER..." with more. Accompanying the article is a very rare illustration of the "gerrymander", noting: "Hatched 1812. Died 1813." (see)
Gerrymandering is a political maneuver still used today, remaining a gripe of citizenry across the country. This illustration is very rarely found in period newspapers.
Complete in 4 pages, very nice condition.
Category: Pre-Civil War