This small bale of cotton was presented to Mrs. Harrison during a Presidential visit to Galveston, Texas, April 18, 1891. It is covered on all sides with a grosgrain silk fabric, but the fabric comes around the two wide sides partially leaving a small "windows" for the cotton to show through. There are six narrow straps of metal holding the bale together. The straps are gold in color. On one side in the "window" under the straps is a soft cotton or cotton velveteen Texas flag in red, blue, and white. The grosgrain is a cream color with a slight pinkish shade. On one side (plain side no flag) the straps are connected with small brackets shaped like upside down "u". Painted or printed on one end between the straps: "Souvenir / President / Harrison's Visit / Galveston Texas / April 18 1891." The top three lines are in black and are faded. The bottom two lines are in gold. On the bottom strap below the flag is a paper tag with pink or faded red string. The paper tag is missing the bottom half (torn). The tag says: "Mrs. Benj. Harrison" (part of Harrison gone) on one side and "compliments / of / ??(gone) on the other side. The cotton bale was a gift on the trip "Through the South and West with the President" in 1891 - a 10,000 mile train trip.
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