Abraham Lincoln is one of the key figures in American history. It turns out that many his personal effects are still on the market in 2022. At least they were ahead of the weekend auction of his personal items by Heritage Auctions. Personal items like his pocketknife and the key to his Ford’s Theater box were some of the rarities that performed at Heritage’s: Lincoln and His Times Americana & Political Signature Auction that closed February 12-13, 2022.

Heritage Auctions did not provide estimates for the items, but each was unique. The number of total bids were not high, but the prices paid were. Some of these items were literally once in a lifetime opportunity. Historical items are bought and sold every day, but sometimes it seems almost impossible to fathom that you can own such detailed pieces of history. That makes judging an auction of this sort quite difficult.

Collectors Dashboard evaluates high-end collectibles as an alternative asset class. This means collectibles are attracting the same capital that could have been invested into stocks or bonds. Many collectibles now cost thousands of dollars (or much more). Collectors with a passion to own a collectible are often in direct competition with investors who are looking to resell the exact same asset for a profit in the future.

Here are key pieces of interest that Collectors Dashboard tracked and the prices they sold for.

LETTER TO THE ARMY

Abraham Lincoln: The President writes to the Army of the Potomac after the Union Defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg. The letter had an opening bid of $250,000.00 which after buyer’s premium is included comes out to $312,500.00. The letter sold for $325,000.00 on February 12, 2022, after 3 bids.

The weight of the words in the context of the moment add provenance to the opening bid. Heritage Auctions notes that, “In the Union’s darkest hour following the crushing defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Abraham Lincoln writes the Army of the Potomac to honor the brave men who fought and died in battle and remind the Northern public of the great cause for which they fought, foreshadowing the themes of his Gettysburg Address he would deliver eleven months later.”

The letter reads:

To the Army of the Potomac:

I have just read your Commanding General’s preliminary report of the battle of Fredericksburg. Although you were not successful, the attempt was not an error, nor the failure other than an accident. The courage with which you, in an open field, maintained the contest against an entrenched foe, and the consummate skill and success with which you crossed and re-crossed the river, in face of the enemy, show that you possess all the qualities of a great army, which will yet give victory to the cause of the country and of popular government. Condoling with the mourners for the dead, and sympathizing with the severely wounded, I congratulate you that the number of both is comparatively so small.

I tender to you, officers and soldiers, the thanks of the nation.

Abraham Lincoln

THE 13th AMENDMENT

A historic engrossed copy of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution: Abolishing the Institution of Slavery. Signed by Speaker of the House of Representatives Schuyler Colfax, Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, and over 107 members of the 38th Congress, including future President James A. Garfield. The opening bid was $200,000.00 which after buyer’s premium is included comes out to $250,000.00. The document sold for $262,500.00 on February 12, 2022, after 2 bids.

ABE’s POCKETKNIFE

Abraham Lincoln: Exquisite Pocket Knife Presented to the President at the 1864 Philadelphia Sanitary Fair. Also included is his letter of thanks for the knife and signed: “Your Ob’t serv’t A. Lincoln”. The opening bid was $120,000.00 which after buyer’s premium was included came out to $150,000.00. Image below by Heritage Auctions. Sotheby’s previously sold this exact knife back in a 1989 auction that realized $99,825.00. The knife was the high selling item of the entire auction realizing $519,000.00 on February 12, 2022, after 8 bids.

OTHER KEY ITEMS

Abraham Lincoln: His Personal Example of His Iconic Portrait Bust by Leonard Volk, Presented to Him by the Sculptor Himself had an opening bid of $100,000.00 which after buyer’s premium was included came out to $125,000.00. The bust sold for $399,000.00 on February 12, 2022, after 9 bids.

Political:3D & Other Display (pre-1896), Abraham Lincoln: His Personal Example of His Iconic Portrait Bust by Leonard Volk, Presented to Him by the Sculptor Himself.

The Key to Lincoln’s Box at Ford’s Theater had a current bid of $52,500.00 after 19 bids on January 27, 2022, and sold for $495,000.00 on February 12, 2022, after 40 bids. Image below by Heritage Auctions.

George Armstrong Custer: His Personal 7th Cavalry Shoulder Knots had an opening bid of $100,000.00 which after buyer’s premium was included came out to $125,000.00. The item did not sell and is currently available on Heritage Auctions for a Buy Now price of $125,000.00.

Signed Carte de Visite [CDV]. A vignette version of O-84 in Lincoln in Photographs, this CDV of a relaxed President Lincoln was taken by Mathew B. Brady in Washington, D.C., Friday, January 8, 1864. 2.5″ x 4″ (sight). Gold-rule border with “Brady Washington” imprint on recto and “Brady’s National Photographic Portrait Galleries” back mark. Boldly signed, “A. Lincoln” above photographer’s imprint on recto. It has been certified and encapsulated by PSA to the overall size of 4.25″ x 7.25″. Small crease at bottom left corner which does not touch signature, with a few scattered areas of minute soiling. A beautiful example in fine condition with a strong dark signature. The price was $55,000.00 after 2 bids on January 27 and the card sold for $81,250.00 on February 12, 2022, after 6 bids. Image below by Heritage Auctions.

John Wilkes Booth: $100,000 Reward Poster issued by the U.S. War Department, April 20, 1865, had a bid of $41,000.00 after 2 bids on January 27 and sold for $125,000.00 on February 12, 2022, after 12 bids. Collectors Dashboard had previously covered War Department issued reward posters.

John Wilkes Booth: Personally Owned Swagger Stick or Riding Crop had an opening bid of $50,000.00 and sold for $87,500.00 on February 12, 2022, after 3 bids.

Mary Todd Lincoln’s Black Lace Veil Worn on the Night of the Assassination. Sold together with an authenticating note signed by Elizabeth Keckley, her noted African American dressmaker, friend and confidante. Upon leaving Washington in May 1865, Mary Lincoln distributed personal mementoes of herself and her husband to a number of friends and favored staff; she gave the earrings, bonnet, and cloak that she had worn to Ford’s Theater to Mrs. Keckley, a former slave whose book Behind the Scenes (1868) furnishes an invaluable glimpse into the Lincoln White House. The veil had a bid of $20,000.00 after 1 bid on January 27, and sold for $37,500.00 on February 12, 2022, after 6 bids.

CONCLUSION

The items painted a unique time in American history. The prices paid represent a strong pulse for presidential collectibles. It seems that there would have been more bids on some of these items, but then again with prices and buyer’s premium you just never know where auctions will end up.

The key to Lincolns box might have been a form of morbid curiosity. There were 40 bids on the key, but they had 3,397 page views. Many of the items in this auction transported collectors of history — or investors — back to the time of Abraham Lincoln, collectors were willing to pay investment level money for a chance to be the sole owner.