A lovely chromolithographic poster by the Advance Thresher Co. of Battle Creek, Michigan, appropriating political imagery to promote farm machinery.

The poster employs a presidential theme highlighting George Washington and Theodore Roosevelt, suggesting that it was produced during the latter’s 1904 re-election campaign. At top large portrait busts of the two presidents flank a figure bearing the “Advance” standard, with smaller busts of the other presidents running around the border. Below the subtitle “The Advance in Threshing from Washington to Roosevelt,” two large vignettes contrast the primitive state of threshing at Mount Vernon with the wonders of the early 20^th century.

Another impression realized $3290 at Cowans in 2010. This may or may not be the one now held by the Huntington Library.