Stationery Wars

The Civil War has long been recognized for its "firsts" in modern warfare: mine fields, flame throwers, repeating rifles, naval torpedoes, and even aircraft carriers (a boat designed for transporting balloons). Patriotic covers, as stationery imprinted with pro-Union or pro-Confederate designs are called, represent several "firsts" of their own. Their popularity with a public unaccustomed to such eye-candy made them one of the country's first fads. Their colorful encroachment on public space constituted a first, if unfortunate, step toward the visual bombardment of modern advertising. Most significant, their use of vivid imagery to direct the emotions and secure the allegiance of a civilian population marked an important first in American wartime propaganda.

While Civil War lithographers drew on earlier developments in advertising and electioneering, the scale, scope, and sophistication of their war effort were unparalleled in the history of American printing. It is estimated that over four thousand designs were churned out of the nation's print shops during the first six months of the war. In all some six thousand designs have survived in manuscript and philatelic collections, and many more are probably lost forever.

In the near future, the Civil War Envelope Project will allow the interested public to upload, tag, and discuss these images, so check back soon!