Abraham Lincoln's bloodied gloves from night of assassination sold for jaw-dropping price
Treasured artifacts linked to President Abraham Lincoln including blood-stained leather gloves that were in Lincoln's pocket the night he was assassinated were among the 144 items up for bid at an auction on Wednesday.
Out of these, 136 were sold to pay off a two-decade-old $8 million loan that the Lincoln Presidential Foundation used to buy a one-of-a-kind cluster of Lincoln artifacts from a California collector.
The auction at Freeman's/Hindman in Chicago raised $7.9 million, but that includes buyers' premiums of roughly 28% tacked onto each sale to cover the auction house's administrative costs.
The gloves were the top-selling items, bringing in $1.52 million including the premium. One of two handkerchiefs Lincoln had with him April 14, 1865, the night he was shot, went for $826,000.
A 'Wanted' poster featuring photos of three suspects in the assassination conspiracy, led by John Wilkes Booth, sold for $762,500, far higher than the top estimated price of $120,000.
And the earliest known sample of the 16th president's handwriting, from a notebook in 1824, fetched $521,200.
Phone and email messages seeking comment were left for the foundation. Its website said proceeds from the auction would be put toward retiring the debt and 'any excess funds will go toward our continued care and display of our extensive collection.'
The foundation purchased a 1,540-item assemblage in 2007 from Louise Taper for the fledgling Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, which opened in 2005 in the city where he established a law practice and lived while serving in the Illinois Legislature and briefly in Congress.
The artifacts were supposed to give the library and museum, which was rich in Lincoln-related manuscripts, a boost in what it lacked — the meaty kind of curios that draw tourists.
But fundraising was slow, forcing the sale of non-Lincoln portions of the collection and threats by the foundation to sell more before it finally extended the loan.
In 2012 a controversy arose over what had been the crown jewel of the group — a stovepipe hat, appraised at $6 million, that Lincoln was said to have given as a gift to a southern Illinois supporter. That story came under intense scrutiny, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, resulting in a 2019 study that found there was no evidence the hat belonged to Lincoln. It was not part of Wednesday's auction.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Wall Street choppy, oil dips as US holds back from Mideast military action
Major Wall Street indexes closed lower on Friday while oil prices fell after U.S. President Donald Trump held back from immediate military action in the Israel-Iran conflict. All eyes remained trained on the Middle East one week after an initial Israeli assault drew Iranian retaliation. The U.S. imposed Iran-related sanctions a day after Trump said he might take two weeks to decide on further action. According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 lost 0.21%, while the Nasdaq Composite shed 0.49%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, rose 38.47 points, or 0.09%, to 42,210.13. Stocks had been broadly positive at the open, and dipped in and out of negative territory during the session. Global benchmark Brent crude futures fell 2.3% to settle at $77.01 a barrel, but gained 3.6% in the week. Front-month U.S. crude - which did not settle on Thursday due to a U.S. holiday and expires on Friday - ended down 0.28% at $74.93, with a weekly gain of 2.7%. Live Events "Investors are a little bit nervous about buying stocks right in front of this situation and, more specifically, right in front of this weekend," said Rick Meckler, a partner at Cherry Lane Investments in New Vernon, New Jersey. The new sanctions target entities, individuals and vessels providing Iran with defence machinery, and were seen as a sign of a diplomatic approach from the Trump administration. "However, while Israel and Iran carry on pounding away at each other, there can always be an unintended action that escalates the conflict and touches upon oil infrastructure," PVM analyst John Evans said. European foreign ministers urged Iran to engage with the U.S. over its nuclear programme after high-level talks in Geneva about a potential new nuclear deal ended with little sign of progress. Europe's main bourses had ended their session a touch higher, following similar gains across Asia. MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe fell 0.01% on the day. Gains on Hong Kong's Hang Seng, and South Korea's Kospi linked to newly elected President Lee Jae Myung's stimulus, had boosted Asian shares during that session. FED SPLIT Federal Reserve policymakers made their first public comments since Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday that borrowing costs were likely to fall this year, but that he expects "meaningful" inflation ahead as Trump's tariffs raise prices for consumers. The close split between governors on how to manage the risks was in full view as Governor Christopher Waller said the central bank should consider cutting as soon as the next meeting, while the Richmond Fed's Tom Barkin said there was no urgency to cut. Powell had also cautioned on Wednesday against holding on too strongly to the forecasts. Treasury yields fell after Waller's comments, and as concerns about the Middle East conflict supported demand for safe haven bonds. The yield on benchmark 10-year notes fell 2 basis points to 4.375%, from 4.395% late on Wednesday. Demand rose for the U.S. dollar, pushing the greenback to a three-week high against the yen. The dollar rose 0.03% against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, with the euro up 0.3% at $1.1528. The index is poised to rise 0.6% this week. Prices for gold, another traditional refuge, fell 0.13% to $3,365.91 and were poised for a weekly loss.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Oil prices settle lower as US sanctions ease fears of escalation in Iran
Oil prices settled down on Friday as the U.S. imposed new Iran-related sanctions, marking a diplomatic approach that fed hopes of a negotiated agreement, a day after President Donald Trump said he might take two weeks to decide U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict. ADVERTISEMENT Brent crude futures settled down $1.84, or 2.33%, to $77.01 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for July - which did not settle on Thursday as it was a U.S. holiday and expires on Friday - was down 21 cents, or 0.28%, at $74.93. The more liquid August contract settled at $73.84. Brent rose 3.6% on the week, while front-month U.S. crude futures increased 2.7%. The Trump administration issued fresh Iran-related sanctions, including on two entities based in Hong Kong, and counter-terrorism-related sanctions, according to a notice posted to the U.S. Treasury Department website. The sanctions target at least 20 entities, five individuals and three vessels, according to Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control. ADVERTISEMENT "Those sanctions are cutting both ways. They may be part of a broader negotiation approach towards Iran. The fact they are undertaking this is a signal they are trying to resolve this outside of conflict," said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital in New York. Oil prices jumped almost 3% on Thursday after Israel bombed nuclear targets in Iran, while Iran - OPEC's third-largest producer - fired missiles and drones at Israel. Neither side showed any sign of backing down in the week-old war. Brent prices retreated after the White House said Trump would decide whether the United States would get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict in the next two weeks. "Although a major escalation is yet to occur, risks to supply from the region remain high, still hinging upon the potential for U.S. involvement," said Russell Shor, senior market analyst at Israel's UN ambassador said Israel seeks genuine efforts on Iran's nuclear capabilities from Friday's meeting between European and Iranian ministers, not just another round of talks. ADVERTISEMENT "However, while Israel and Iran carry on pounding away at each other, there can always be an unintended action that escalates the conflict and touches upon oil infrastructure," PVM analyst John Evans said. Iran in the past has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for Middle East oil exports. ADVERTISEMENT Oil exports so far have not been disrupted and there is no shortage of supply, said Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS. "The direction of oil prices from here will depend on whether there are supply disruptions," he said. ADVERTISEMENT An escalation of the conflict in such a way that Israel attacks export infrastructure or Iran disrupts shipping through the strait could lead to oil at $100 a barrel being a reality, said Panmure Liberum analyst Ashley Kelty. Elsewhere, the EU has abandoned its proposal to lower the price cap on Russian oil to $45, Bloomberg reported. U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for an eighth week in a row for the first time since September 2023, energy services firm Baker Hughes said in its closely followed report. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by one to 554 in the week to June 20, the lowest since November 2021. (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel)
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Wall Street choppy, oil dips as US holds back from Mideast military action
Live Events FED SPLIT (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel Major Wall Street indexes closed lower on Friday while oil prices fell after U.S. President Donald Trump held back from immediate military action in the Israel-Iran eyes remained trained on the Middle East one week after an initial Israeli assault drew Iranian retaliation. The U.S. imposed Iran-related sanctions a day after Trump said he might take two weeks to decide on further to preliminary data, the S&P 500 lost 0.21%, while the Nasdaq Composite shed 0.49%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, however, rose 38.47 points, or 0.09%, to 42, had been broadly positive at the open, and dipped in and out of negative territory during the benchmark Brent crude futures fell 2.3% to settle at $77.01 a barrel, but gained 3.6% in the week. Front-month U.S. crude - which did not settle on Thursday due to a U.S. holiday and expires on Friday - ended down 0.28% at $74.93, with a weekly gain of 2.7%."Investors are a little bit nervous about buying stocks right in front of this situation and, more specifically, right in front of this weekend," said Rick Meckler, a partner at Cherry Lane Investments in New Vernon, New new sanctions target entities, individuals and vessels providing Iran with defence machinery, and were seen as a sign of a diplomatic approach from the Trump administration."However, while Israel and Iran carry on pounding away at each other, there can always be an unintended action that escalates the conflict and touches upon oil infrastructure," PVM analyst John Evans foreign ministers urged Iran to engage with the U.S. over its nuclear programme after high-level talks in Geneva about a potential new nuclear deal ended with little sign of main bourses had ended their session a touch higher, following similar gains across Asia. MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe fell 0.01% on the on Hong Kong's Hang Seng, and South Korea's Kospi linked to newly elected President Lee Jae Myung's stimulus, had boosted Asian shares during that Reserve policymakers made their first public comments since Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday that borrowing costs were likely to fall this year, but that he expects "meaningful" inflation ahead as Trump's tariffs raise prices for close split between governors on how to manage the risks was in full view as Governor Christopher Waller said the central bank should consider cutting as soon as the next meeting, while the Richmond Fed's Tom Barkin said there was no urgency to had also cautioned on Wednesday against holding on too strongly to the yields fell after Waller's comments, and as concerns about the Middle East conflict supported demand for safe haven yield on benchmark 10-year notes fell 2 basis points to 4.375%, from 4.395% late on rose for the U.S. dollar, pushing the greenback to a three-week high against the dollar rose 0.03% against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, with the euro up 0.3% at $1.1528. The index is poised to rise 0.6% this for gold, another traditional refuge, fell 0.13% to $3,365.91 and were poised for a weekly loss.
