Note: Please see Day 3 (October 11) of the sale that features rare material relating to the Gettysburg Address.

Strands of hair from President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of State William Seward, as well as a piece of linen from Lincoln’s deathbed. Collected by Caroline Wright and Charles K. Tuckerman, respectively, circa 1865. Matted and framed to 13 x 15 ½ in. Framer’s mount to verso. Note to verso identifies the hair in the left capsule as Lincoln’s and the right capsule as Seward’s. With image of Lincoln on his deathbed and informational placard.

1. Approx. 3 strands of Abraham Lincon’s hair, averaging about 1 in. long. 

2. A piece of linen from Lincoln’s deathbed approx. 1 in. long. 

3. Approx. 5-6 strands of William Seward’s hair, averaging about 1 in. long. 

Caroline Wright was a close friend of the Lincolns and was in Washington, D.C., when Abraham was inaugurated in 1865, making this the most likely time when she collected their hair. It was a common Victorian pastime to collect hair as sentimental mementos. As the wife of the Governor of Indiana, Caroline collected the hair of several prominent politicians throughout her time. 

Charles K. Tuckerman was the first American Minister to Greece and was in Washington, D.C., at the time of Lincoln’s assassination. The linen was collected at the Peterson House, across the street from Ford’s Theatre. 

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

[Abraham Lincoln, Politics, Mary Todd Lincoln, 1860 Election, Election of 1860, 1864 Election, Election of 1864, Lincoln Assassination, John Wilkes Booth] [Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Relics, Militaria]