Proof 1 from “The County Election”

Blank white spaces and areas that have been outlined without shading characterize the earliest print of "The County Election." This sheet was a trial proof, printed by John Sartain to check his progress as he worked on the steel printing plate. Although much of the composition is roughed out, figures in the distant background are missing, and the high contrast of the image lacks the delicate gradations of tone perfected in later proofs. Sartain may have shown this proof to Bingham, who spent many months in Philadelphia supervising Sartain's work.