[LINCOLN] Hair from Abe & Mary Todd, w/ Ford's Theatre Relic

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Day 2: Early & Historic Americana

By Fleischer's Auctions

Oct 10, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-10-10 09:00:00 2025-10-10 09:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Day 2: Early & Historic Americana https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/fleischers-auctions/day-2-early-historic-americana-19250
Day one of Fleischer's 2025 Fall Premier auction includes early American artifacts, documents, signatures, ephemera, and weaponry. Rare material relating to African American history is featured, as well as fine examples of antique photography. Fleischer's Auctions info@fleischersauctions.com

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• Lot Description

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

   

  A group of relics from the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, collected by Caroline Wright (circa 1865) and Al. Emmett Fostel. Matted and framed to 15 ¾ x 12 ¾ in. With images of Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, Ford’s Theatre, and an informational placard.  

   

  1. Approx. 12 strands of Abraham Lincoln’s hair, averaging about 1 cm. in length. 

   

  2. Approx. 1/2 in. wide portion of the lace curtain from Lincoln’s private box in Ford’s Theatre the night he was assassinated (14 April 1865). John Wilkes Booth caught his boot spur on this lace curtain, throwing him from the box and causing him to break his foot. 

   

  3. Approx. 6 strands of Mary Todd Lincoln’s hair, averaging about 1 cm. in length. 

   

  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 wife of the Governor of Indiana, Caroline collected the hair of several prominent politicians throughout her time. 

   

  Al. Emmett Fostell got his start in show business, working as a variety performer and theater manager throughout the late-19th century. His Lincoln collection was a side job; he spent years collecting his memorabilia and toured his relics around the country, sometimes in his “Museum of Natural History” or by loaning items to newspapers. 

   

  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] 

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• Provenance

  Caroline R. Wright, née Davis (d. 1896); Grace Francis Peck (d. 1959), granddaughter of above; Eleanor S. Wendell (d. 1992), daughter of above; Christie’s, 20 November 1992, lot 285; Christie’s, Forbes Collection, 2002, lot 121; Cary J. Delery, which includes a photo of the letter from Al. Emmett Fostell attesting the curtain’s provenance (certificate of authenticity, affixed to frame reverse). 

• Shipping Info

  • SHIPPING PROTOCOL AND INSURANCE

    All packages valued at over $250 are shipped with a signature required upon delivery. All packages handled and shipped in-house by Fleischer’s Auctions are not insured unless insurance is requested. Successful bidders who would like their packages insured are responsible for notifying us that this is the case and are responsible for paying the cost of insurance

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