estateRUTH.

Identification

1928 Al Smith Democratic Rally Broadside, Racine, WI

Photo reference

1 uploaded photo

Overview

The broadside contains highly specific, verifiable text confirming its origin and date. It advertises an Al Smith presidential rally on 'Saturday Night, Oct. 27', which aligns perfectly with the 1928 calendar.

Story

The broadside features explicit, verifiable local provenance, authorized and paid for by Harry Herzog, Secretary of the Smith for President Club in Racine, Wisconsin. The inclusion of a union printer's bug in the corner aligns perfectly with the event's speaker, Frank P. Walsh, a prominent labor lawyer, cementing this as an authentic piece of working-class Democratic mobilization from the 1928 election.

Maker / Origin

Smith for President Club

Condition & Value

Based on the visual evidence, the broadside presents with clear, legible typography and standard age-related toning expected of 1928 newsprint or poster paper. The overall display quality is strong.

Full Research

See what it's actually worth.

Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

Market Analysis

The secondary market for pre-1930s political ephemera remains robust, supported by dedicated historical collectors and institutional archives. Al Smith's 1928 campaign is particularly notable due to his status as the first Catholic major-party nominee and his anti-Prohibition platform. While highly graphic or crossover-appeal posters command premium prices, local text-heavy broadsides move steadily among regional historical societies and specialized labor or political collectors.

Value Drivers

▲ Explicit 1928 Racine, Wisconsin provenance and union bug confirm authenticity and regional historical value.

▲ Connection to speaker Frank P. Walsh adds crossover appeal for labor history collectors.

▲ Al Smith's 1928 campaign remains highly collected due to its cultural and historical milestones.

Concerns

▼ Unverified physical dimensions — if this is a small handbill rather than a large display broadside, value leans toward the $120 floor.

▼ Unverified verso condition — hidden tape repairs, mounting residue, or writing on the back would discount the piece.

▼ Lack of a candidate portrait or high-impact graphics limits the ceiling compared to premium campaign posters.

Best Venue

List with a specialized Americana and political memorabilia auction house (such as Hake's or a strong regional Midwestern auctioneer) to ensure it reaches dedicated political and labor history collectors. Prior to listing, measure the exact dimensions, as collectors differentiate heavily in price between small handbills and large display window cards.

Upside Potential

If the broadside is confirmed to be a large-format poster (rather than a small handbill) and is in near-mint condition on the verso, competitive bidding between Wisconsin regional collectors and labor history institutions could push the final result toward the $350-$450 range seen in premium regional coattail posters.

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Also found — market-range context

Related comps outside the valuation band· 9 comps

Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.

  • Heritage Auctions· 2024-11-02
    Al Smith and Franklin D. Roosevelt: Rare Coattail Button
    Campaign button is a different physical format than a broadside.
    $7,500
  • Heritage Auctions· 2021-12-04
    Herbert Hoover and Al Smith: 'The Choice of Millions' Cardboard Eberhard Faber Advertisement
    Cardboard advertisement for pencils, not a political campaign broadside.
    $688
  • Heritage Auctions· 2014-05-24
    Al Smith: Large Colorful Headquarters Banner
    Headquarters banner is a different physical format than a paper broadside.
    $600
  • Edward T. Pollack Fine Arts
    SMITHEREENS ORIGINAL ART FOR AN ALFRED E. SMITH CAMPAIGN POSTER
    Original art for a poster, which is a different medium than a printed broadside.
    $375
  • Hake's Auctions
    AL SMITH 1928 PENNSYLVANIA SERIAL NUMBERED CONTRIBUTOR DIME BANK
    Dime bank is a different physical object than a paper broadside.
    $354
  • Hake's Auctions
    1928 AL SMITH TAMMANY HALL TIGER PROHIBITION ORIGINAL CARTOON ART
    Original cartoon art is a different medium than a printed broadside.
    $236
  • Hake's Auctions
    AL SMITH "NOTIFICATION CEREMONIES" ALBANY, NEW YORK TICKET
    Ticket is a different physical format than a broadside poster.
    $156
  • Fairhill Auction LLC· 2024-09-26
    ALFRED E. SMITH CAMPAIGN POSTER
    Sale on record but hammer price not published.
    No price
  • Boston Rare Maps
    Crunching electoral data to re-elect Herbert Hoover
    Different candidate and likely a different format (electoral data/map).
    No price