Sepia-tinted photo of Harriet Lane. Oval. Harriet facing 3/4 front, to her right. Hair rolled under with flowers. Decolletage dress with flowers at center and at shoulders. Light-colored dress, no jewelry. Shown from hips up. Frame: rounded front, plain,
a. (medal): Circular bronzed copper commemorative medal. On Front: Raised profile of James Buchanan in center. Around edge: "James Buchanan, President of the United States" "Paquet F." under profile. On reverse: Standing toga-clad man with snake around his right wrist. To left is seated female; young man on knees with arm around standing man/physician; bearded man with scythe behind and to right. "To Dr. Frederick Rose, Assistant Surgeon, Royal Navy, G.B." At base: "For kindness and humanity/ to officers and crew/ of the U.S. Steamer/ Susquehanna."
b.(case): Book-like red leather case. On both outside covers, an eagle within a circle surrounded by 13 stars. A square floral border with spray of flowers in each corner is inside an outer border of 3 solid lines. All impressions in gold. A brass clasp in center on front and back covers. Circular opening/holder for medallion is surround by a metallic thread cord. Dark blue velvet with impressed floral sprays in each corner cover the front and back. Metallic cord around outer edges. Narrow red leather edges are stamped with a gold chain pattern.
Photographic print / painting of Prince of Wales visit to Mount Vernon. Large, black and white print showing entrance to Washington's tomb to the left with the Prince of Wales and James Buchanan at entrance. Wide array of men and women across picture, mo
a.(medal): Circular bronzed copper commemorative medal. Raised profile of James Buchanan in center. Around edge:"James Buchanan, President of the United States." Beneath is name of the designer, "S.(alathiel) Ellis. SC."
On reverse: Border of 3 layers of oak leaves and acorns with a striped shield at bottom center. In center above: " In/Commemoration/of the/ First Embassy from/ Japan/to the/ United States/ 1860" On right, beneath striped shield: "Paquet F."
b. Leather case for Buchanan Commemorative medal in the shape of a large coin. On both black leather covers and spine is a gold 3-line border that frames an eagle perched on a striped shield with arrows and olive branches beneath its clawed foot. 13 gold stars surround it and sprays of peonies are in each corner. The book opens to the back. Wood edges frame a circular holder for the medal. Peony sprays are pressed into all 4 corners of the velvet covering.
Commemorates the Japanese Delegation visit to United States of America
Commemorative banner of Pennsylvania Coat of Arms and U.S. shield. Embroidered silk banner in original wooden frame. Embroidery measures about five feet square and shows an American spread eagle and the U.S. shield between four tasseled American flags.
Provenance
Banner was stored in a public building near Cleveland, Ohio for several decades (unknown how banner reached Ohio or why it was stored there). It reached the art market in the 1960s. It is believed to be from the Japanese delegation of 1860.
Banner is believed to have been a gift to President Buchanan in 1860 by the first Japanese mission to the White House. According to documentation from Thomas L. Hughes, the Pennsylvania Coat of Arms was regulated in 1875 to have two white horses and 'no