Richmond 1865 Vicksburg Fort Donelson: General U.S. Grant

Richmond, VA: T. Stevens, 1865. General U.S. Grant woven silk campaign ribbon, 13x4 cm., 5x1.5 inches. With portrait and motto "I will fight it out on this line". White silk with red, white and blue design & black portrait above the flags and eagle. This commemorates Grant's taking of Vicksburg, a strategic city on the Mississippi, for the Union armies. T. Stevens, Coventry on the reverse. Thomas Stevens (1828-1888) was a weaver from Coventry, England famous for inventing the 'stevengraph' to produce colorful woven silk pictures. His pattern book was saved by just before his factories were destroyed in the Coventry Blitz of 1940 and the remaining productions have gained in value to this day. A few small stains appear at the top edge and this scarce copy lacks the original tassel. Good condition.. Good. 24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall. Ephemera.