Judge — February 23, 1889 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is the title page for a Judge magazine issue themed around a presidential inauguration in December. The publication cost 10 cents. The ornate decorative lettering and formal presentation suggest this was a special commemorative issue focused on the swearing-in of a new president. The large pomegranate illustration at the bottom is unclear in its specific satirical meaning without additional context about which inauguration this references. The Judge Publishing Company was based at 38 Park Row in New York. Without knowing the specific date or presidency commemorated, I cannot definitively explain what political point the pomegranate symbolizes or what contemporary events the issue addressed.