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The federal pillars, Massachusetts Centinel, January 16, 1788.

A series of prints published over several months showing columns, each labeled after a state, being placed upright by a hand extending from a cloud. The first print, published January 16, 1788, labeled "United they stand - divided fall" shows the Massachusetts column being added to those of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. In the June 11th 1788 issue, the print, labeled "Redeunt Saturnia Regna" shows the Maryland and South Carolina columns in place and the Virginia column being put into position, with the New Hampshire column reclining on the right. On August 2nd 1788 the final print appeared, the New Hampshire column has been placed ahead of the Virginia column, the New York column is in place, and the hand is placing the North Carolina column into position; to the right is a crumbling Rhode Island column next to the notation, "The foundation good - it may yet be SAVED."

Credit: Courtesy of he Library of Congress

On January 16, 1788, the Massachusetts Centinel began to publish a series of prints presenting the growing number of states that were ratifying the Constitution. On December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania had become the second state to ratify the Constitution, following Delaware, which had done so on December 7th.