An eBay vendor in California listed a rare Douglas portrait flag on January 21st. Measuring 18″ x 11″, it had been in his family since 1860. It was offered on a Buy-It-Now basis for $17,000 and sold within two days.
Christies held a sale on January 23rd, representing their entry as part of the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding. A graphic and colorful Lincoln banner measuring 29″ x 18″ garnered a strong $146,500. A 39″ x 76″ Lincoln-Johnson jugate broadside achieved a record $508,000. Printed by M. B. Brown & Company of N.Y., it was found mounted to a wall in the back room of a tavern in Yonkers, N.Y. which probably doubled as a campaign headquarters in 1864. Acquired by Jon Mann, it was professionally restored and greeted visitors at the bicentennial exhibit at Federal Hall in 2009. We have it on good authority that it was not included in the bequest to the New York Public Library; however, we are not privy to the name of the consignor. Almost immediately after its sale, eBay “porch pirates” were offering copies, no doubt of smaller dimensions.
Bonham’s/Skinner’s of Marlborough, Massachusetts held an online auction that concluded on January 28th. A group of political hats and a cape were offered as one lot. There were three “painted” kepis (glazed, waterproof cotton) and three fabric hats, two in the Zouave-style. We believe the cape and the gray kepi were part of a uniform of a Connecticut Harrison & Morton marching club. The kepi had identifying inscriptions in the interior that included the word “Uniform”. The only other identified item was the red, white and blue kepi next to it which had a small caption card inscribed “Wide Awake Cap G. P. Holt”. Some of these hats had condition issues. The Wide Awake kepi was fair-to-good. Estimated at $400-$600, the group did not go unnoticed, selling for $4131.
Witherell’s of Sacramento held a sale on January 29th. A Booth reward broadside measuring 13″ x 23 5/8″ was described as a “4th state” example. We are aware of two versions that lack the “picture frames”, but with changes to the physical descriptions of the conspirators. According to the cataloger, this version never was distributed or posted, as the capture of Booth and Herold obviated the need to do so. The same claim was made for the version with CDVs pasted in the frames that correspond to their identity. This example had some condition issues, including a stain and numerous tape repairs on the verso., but had undergone prior treatment. Still, it managed $89,600. They also had a circa 1866 lithograph commemorating the passage of the 13th amendment abolishing slavery by the California legislature. It had facsimile signatures of the Senate and Assembly signers. Printed by Nahl Brothers and Louis Nagel of San Francisco, it realized $5120. It was a prime candidate for cleaning and restoration.
An eBay vendor is currently offering a choice example of Dewitt AL-1860-100 with a Buy-It-Now price of $2750. The Lincoln portrait has some scattered handling marks. If it was as nice as the Hamlin side, it may be worth the asking price.
Heritage Auctions of Dallas held a manuscripts sale on February 28th. The prize consignment was a set of souvenir/autograph albums assembled by Elizabeth Dole, wife of William P. Dole, Lincoln’s Commissioner of Indian Affairs. William had been a delegate to the 1860 Wigwam Convention. These were broken up and sold in 18 lots. The signature lot contained Dole’s railroad pass from Washington, D. C. to Gettysburg and return, dated November 18, 1863. Lincoln rode on the same train and spent the time working on his address for the dedication of the soldier’s cemetery at Gettysburg. The pass was accompanied by a green pasteboard “Marshal’s Ticket” dated November 19, 1863, likely issued to participants in the procession leading up to the dedication and speeches. It may also have served as authorization to sit on the speaker’s platform. It sold for $187,500. A coated stock guest’s ticket to the 1864 Union National Convention that nominated Lincoln was likewise a previously unrecorded and unpublished item. It had some ghosting from an 1865 Inauguration Ball invitation that was pasted on the facing page in the album. We assume delegate and alternate delegate tickets were also issued, but none have surfaced in the ensuing 162 years. Two determined bidders ran it up to $7812.
A coated stock ticket for the March 6, 1865 inauguration ball is the only example we have seen. The ball was held on the 3rd floor of the Patent Building. Tickets for the event were sold to the public for $10 apiece, good for a “gentleman and two ladies”. 4000-6000 people attended which translates to 2000 tickets, but only this example has survived. Unfortunately, it was ineptly removed from the album page by “professional” restorers, causing skinning of the outer edges on verso, measuring 3/4″ across. Why can’t people leave these things alone? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! It brought in $4750. Finally, a funeral pass to the North Room of the White House, accompanied by a period “caption” card, achieved $11,875.
An unusual 1860 Lincoln campaign ribbon from Pennsylvania just sold on eBay with a Buy-It-Now price of $450. It is one of a handful of campaign items that show support of the working class for the Republican ticket. It did have some faults, but the price reflected that. A good buy, we think.
An eBay vendor offered a July 28th issue of the “Campaign Plain Dealer and Popular Sovereignty Advocate” which closed on March 8th, realizing $274. It contained lots of fake news, including stories about Lincoln’s failed love life and his defeat in the presidential election. There were some good graphics, notably a page 3 woodcut which we reproduce.
Heritage Auctions held a sale on March 18th that featured the collection of Dan Madsen of Colorado. Dan has actively collected for 30 years, specializing in Lincoln and Mark Twain. After much thought, he and his wife decided to “divest”, downside and “hit the road”. All good things must come to an end, and we hope new adventures await them! We wish them all the best!
A unique hand-carved parade “standard” measuring 10″ deep and 24″ wide, ex: Chick Harris Collection, featured all the iconography of the Rail Splitter candidate. It was accompanied by a letter of provenance from the daughter of the man who carved it back in 1860. Despite being incomplete, it stands as a display piece with no peers. It sold for $11,250.
The top lot of the sale was a 17″ x 11″ Lincoln & Hamlin parade flag. A lot of people saluted it as it climbed to $81,250.
A die-cut brooch of Lincoln, based on the campaign medal by Key, measured 1″ x 1 1/4″ and realized $3250. A rose-colored silk ribbon measured 2 3/8″ x 5 1/2″ and showed Lincoln in two poses. There was some loss of text at the bottom, but we consulted Carnac the Magnificent who revealed the answer as “Constitution and the Union. Harmony and Prosperity for All”. It made $5750. Finally, a 6 1/4″ x 12″ newspaper extra from the Springfield [Ill.] State Journal, accurately reporting on the death of the President and stabbing of Seward, traded hands for a reasonable $3000.
Stack’s-Bowers held a sale on March 19th that featured satirical currency from the Hugh Shull Collection. A $500 note issued circa 1854 on the “Bank of Nebraska” promised to redeem the note “…on demand at the Slave Pen in Washington”. President Pierce (“Genl. Purse”) and “Steve A. Doublelash… The Little Gnat” appear on either end as well as an enslaved African-American. It sold for $2640.
A decent example of O-49 by Gardner just sold for $1750 on eBay. These things are not falling between the cracks!
Hindman/Freeman’s of Chicago held a presidential sale on March 26th, focusing on the “Father and Savior” of our country, namely Washington and Lincoln. A beautiful silk banner for the Keene, New Hampshire Wide Awakes featured a quote from Lincoln’s Cooper Union address on the verso. It sold for $54,400, in line with its recent auction history. An 1864 campaign flag measured 25 3/4″ x 16 1/2″ and was notable for the use of the eagle in the canton. A record was achieved when it crossed the block for $281,600. We advise the consignor to “take the money and run!”
A 27″ x 21″ oil on canvas by Charles Barry was executed by Barry in 1892, using the from-life sketches he drew while visiting the Republican presidential nominee in June 1860. A singular artwork, it drew a final bid of $102,400. An 11″ x 14″ time table for the arrival of Lincoln’s funeral train in Chicago had a standard 1860 beardless woodcut portrait of the martyr president. It required $4800 to take it home.
A memorial folding fan, constructed with aluminum struts and hand-painted parchment paper came in the original box from the 1867 Paris Exposition. Heated competition produced an auction result of $44,800. There were many unexpected results in the sale with records achieved that may “stand in the books” for some time to come.
Circle the date on your calendar…
Bannerman’s Auctions of Burfordville, Missouri held an auction on April 21st that included a ninth-plate ambrotype of a young man wearing a kepi. The cataloger claimed there was a Lincoln campaign ferrotype attached to the front of the kepi. Not so. It was a small oval ferrotype brooch of Stephen A. Douglas. Size does matter, reflected in the final price of $375.
Bray & Company of Portsmouth, New Hampshire held a sale on April 25th. A section of rope used in the hanging of Mary Surratt was offered with someone “executing” a “final” bid of $4160.
Heritage Auctions of Dallas, Texas held an auction on April 24th and 25th. A circa 1864 accordion-style paper lantern in excellent condition brought in $10,625, far exceeding past results. A lovely under-over jugate ribbon also reached new heights, selling for an even $20,000. A choice example of the ever-popular Lincoln and Hamlin campaign flag, on the original full-length stick with the canton correctly positioned in the upper left, achieved $46,250. A 27″ tall bronze bust of Lincoln by George Bissell, cast in 1893, topped out at $30,000. Finally, an engraved flint glass covered sugar bowl, likely made by Dorflinger Glass Company of Brooklyn and used in the Lincoln White House, did well, selling for $10,750, despite some roughness to the sawtooth rim of the base. Apparently, it is the only complete specimen extant. The White House Collection has the top, but not the bottom.
Adam Fleischer Auctions of Columbus, Ohio held a two-day Civil War sale on April 24th and 25th. An exceptional 1860 Lincoln campaign ribbon caught our eye. It did not go unnoticed, selling for a strong $11,875. We know of only one other example.
Matthew Bullock Auctions of Ottawa, Illinois held an auction on April 25th. A Brady CDV of President Lincoln sold for $2160 while a Brady CDV of eldest son Robert, followed close behind, realizing $1920.
Jackson’s International of Cedar Falls, Iowa held a sale on April 28th. A 16″ tall bronze bust of Lincoln by George Bissell, circa 1893, cast by E. Gruet & Co. of Paris, achieved a solid $5200.
Costea’s Auctions in Marysville, Pennsylvania held a sale on May 3rd. It included a 2 3/4″ x 7 1/4″ jugate paper ribbon for Lincoln & Hamlin. We are aware of three examples of this design in silk, but this is the first paper example we have seen. The original owner inscribed his name on the verso, indicating that he wore it in the October 3, 1860 grand Wide Awake parade in New York City. He then folded it in quarters and tucked it away for safekeeping as a memento of the event. Estimated at $20-$40, it found a new home for $4800.
Swann Galleries of New York City held an auction of signed photographs on May 7th. A large mounted albumen by Roderick Cole, signed on the mount by Lincoln, sold for $101,600. Trimming to the mount and the addition of a caption panel at the bottom may have kept the price down. A signed CDV of Lincoln had an interesting back story. Major General John Dix acquired it during a visit to the White House and gave it to his son, Morgan, as noted on the verso. It descended in Morgan’s family until sold at auction in 2018. It realized $139,700. Both of these prices seem low to us. Finally, a signed CDV of John Wilkes Booth was offered. Its rarity was reflected in the final bid of $107,950.
Steve Hayden, a dealer in Civil War tokens, offered this unlisted muling of a Lincoln token (Dewitt AL-1860-37) on eBay. He indicated it was issued before the outlook of the Civil War which we feel is not the case, especially considering the promotion of a Norfolk, Virginia merchant, and a slight die break on the obverse. Condition was choice. It closed on May 11th, reaching $787.
An eBay vendor in Ohio is offering a rather nice Lincoln-Hamlin back-to-back ferrotype. It is framed with caption cards indicating it was sold by a 13-year-old Thomas Edison in 1860, while working the Grand Trunk Railway in Michigan. “Young Tom Edison” primarily sold newspapers to train passengers. It’s feasible he also sold campaign buttons, candy, gum, tobacco products, etc. Unless this button was “unsold stock” retained by Edison, accompanied by period documentation, it is not feasible that the train passenger who bought this button in 1860 knew the name of the youthful entrepreneur, made note of it, and knew that this was a young man with a future. Light bulbs were not going off in his head. The asking price is $2995.
On May 25th, Steve Hayden sold a silver Lincoln memorial medal on eBay, 21mm, K-284, graded MS65. $958.
In the strange, but true category, Heritage conducted an auction of the Elwood Taylor Flag Collection on June 22nd. The only Lincoln-related item was an 11″ x 17″ Michigan flag used at the Wigwam Convention of 1860. These typically sell in the $7000-$9000 price range. Common sense went out the window when it was hammered down for $100,000! You read that right… one hundred thousand. Yikes! Let’s see how many other Wigwam flags come out of the woodwork!
Heritage Auctions sold the Donald Ackerman Collection of Lincolniana on June 23rd and 24th. Gross sales totaled $1,275,000. The cover lot was a Newark Wide Awake ruby glass presentation lantern given to Isaac Tucker during a regional meeting at Hartford, Connecticut. Other examples are known for the Elmira Wide Awakes and the Sandwich Wide Awakes, both held in museums. It realized $100,000. A delegate’s ticket to the Wigwam Convention was inscribed to Albert Kleeck of Poughkeepsie, who voted for William Seward. It was accompanied by a Seward ribbon and CDV (later additions). It sold for $18,125. A green silk ribbon worn by a member of the Freeport [Illinois] Wide Awakes sold for $23,750, despite faults. It was an example of rarity trumping condition. A most unusual sixth plate ruby ambrotype of two Douglas partisans (likely brothers) in a studio setting, wearing smocks, holding wooden staves and sporting hats inscribed “Douglas” and “Non Intervention Douglas” made $10,000.
A distinctive “Union and Liberty” Lincoln ferrotype on a hand-painted shield sold for $17,500. A Currier & Ives Grand National Banner for Lincoln & Johnson, housed in the original ogee frame, crossed the block for the same $17,500. Finally, a Jeff Davis “Right Man in the Right Place” inauguration badge on a silk rosette reached $7187.
William Smith Auctions of Plainfield, New Hampshire had an auction on July 1st that included a 36″ x 55″ linen banner that likely dated from the Lincoln campaign of 1860. That said, it did not include the name of the party, the candidate or the date. Estimated at $500-$800, it climbed to $6250. We suspect the buyer is “buried”, but time will tell.
Christies of New York held the fifth installment of the Jim Irsay “Icons of History” Collection on July 2nd. Irsay was the owner of the Indianapolis Colts and amassed an impressive collection of autographs, popular culture, sports, rock n’roll memorabilia and political Americana which have generated over $100M in sales. Much of the material was acquired from major dealers and auction houses, as recently as three years ago. A custom-inscribed pocketknife, presented to President Abraham Lincoln at the June 1864 Sanitary Fair in Philadelphia sold for $279,400. It was purchased from Heritage Auctions in 2022 for $519,000.
A 22 3/4″ x 27 1/4″ broadside, likely issued in New York City, announced the death of the President. It sold for $19,050. It had previously sold at Heritage for $68,750 in 2022. A letter dated April 1, 1863, signed by Stanton and endorsed by Lincoln, pardoned Union soldier John O. Brown, who was under sentence of death. Brown served in the State Militia of Indiana and was a member of the “Star in the East” (similar to the anti-war “Knights of the Golden Circle”). He had recruited fifteen other soldiers to join his subversive organization, but turned “state’s witness”. Though convicted, he was subsequently released and barred from the military. It realized $25,400.
A pair of used tickets to Ford’s Theatre for the night of April 14, 1865 was another “recycled” offering. They first appeared as part of the Malcolm Forbes Collection where they were purchased for $86,000 by a collector in the Bay area. They subsequently made their way to RR Auctions where they traded hands for $261,000. This time around, they cost the new owner $330,200. Finally, a 9 1/4″ x 19 1/2″ Lincoln broadside from 1864, published by King & Baird, managed a respectable $12,700.
Adam Fleischer of Columbus held a sale on July 10th. A home-made doll depicted Lincoln sporting an 1860 campaign token and an 1864 ferrotype stickpin. The doll was supposedly owned by William Edgar Marshall (1837-1907) who used it as a model for a portrait of Lincoln he produced. The portrait received high praise from those in the Lincoln inner circle and led to the production of an engraving in 1866 which became a bestseller. Marshall worked for the American Bank Note Company, so he was skilled engraver. It sold for $3437. A Gardner CDV of Lincoln, O-115, taken one day after the surrender of Robert E. Lee at Appomattox, climbed to $11,870. Finally, a CDV published by Fassett of Chicago, showed a memorial banner for Lincoln that featured Fassett’s 1860 photo of Lincoln in the middle. $5312 was required to take it home.
Charles Street Auctions of Sandwich, Massachusetts held a sale on July 10th. It included a silvered zinc high-relief wall plaque of Lincoln, in exceptional condition. The wooden backing boards also included multiple labels for the Cincinnati designer, William J. Powell and patent holder, Wydman & Company. Other examples are known for McClellan, Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and Stonewall Jackson. At $214, there was certainly no downside.
Amero Auctions of Sarasota, Florida held a sale on August 9th. A funky folk art cane of Lincoln, with whalebone shaft and baleen rings, sold for $1187. It’s different.
Hindman-Freeman’s of Chicago held a sale on August 20th. A pair of small, Lincoln and McClellan songsters issued by Mason & Company hit a high note, reaching $3520.
An eBay vendor sold a rare CDV of Jeff Davis on August 31st. It has a back mark of Rees & Company of Richmond and was taken sometime in 1866, after Davis’s release from Fortress Monroe. It realized $638.
When an item shows up that has never appeared before at auction, expect the unexpected. Such was the case on September 4th when an eBay vendor sold a from-life CDV of Lincoln (O-41) with back mark of the original photographer, C. S. German of Springfield. It sometimes appears as a large format mounted albumen. Sixteenth and quarter plate copy image tintypes are also known. Three bidders placed bids at the $5000 level or above. The winning bid was $6486, which took us by surprise. One never knows, do one?
