This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/13/2024
Offered here for auction is a true rarity, a Civil War era daguerreotype case containing a lock (10 strands) of Abraham Lincoln's hair.
The hair was originally obtained by Caroline Wright, wife of Joseph A. Wright, the 10th Governor of Indiana and former Senator (1862-1863).
The Wright family were close with the Lincoln's, and in 1864, Caroline Wright came up with an idea to produce two wreaths made of hair of President Lincoln and his cabinet to raise funds for the U.S. Sanitary Commission, one would be put on display at the Metropolitan Fair, and the other would be gifted to the President. People who would attend the fair would pay to see the wreath, and the goal was to raise $1,000 for the Commission. Caroline commissioned the Brooklyn firm Spies and Champney to create the wreaths, and in a letter dated Jan. 12th, 1864, the company requested a large lock of Lincoln's hair. Although the President's response is not in the Lincoln papers, the President certainly agreed to make the donation. A copy of this letter requesting the hair is included in this lot. The remainder of the lock of hair that was not used in the hair wreaths was kept by Caroline, and was passed down through her family until it was auctioned in 2002 at Christies as part of the Forbes Collection.
Included in this lot is a letter of provenance that contains all the information regarding the hair, as well as the direct chain of custody since 1864. You can rest assured, this is indeed a lock of hair that came from the slain 16th President of the United States, and is one of the most documented locks. Previous sales have been between $10,000 to $20,000 for a lock of hair.
Also comes with a Gotta Have Rock & Roll Certificate of Authenticity