The Property of
The Estate of ELEANOR S. WENDELL,
A Descendant of CAROLINE R. WRIGHT
LINCOLN, ABRAHAM and MARY LINCOLN. Two locks of hair, reportedly from Mary Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln, head, obtained in 1865 by Caroline R. Wright, wife of the Governor of Indiana and Minister to Prussia (see notes to lot 281). The two locks carefully folded into a sheet of old lined paper to form a small packet, 26 x 110mm. (1 x 4 1/4 in.), labelled on the outside in ink (probably by Caroline Wright): "President & Mrs. Lincoln's Hair."
Details
LINCOLN, ABRAHAM and MARY LINCOLN. Two locks of hair, reportedly from Mary Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln, head, obtained in 1865 by Caroline R. Wright, wife of the Governor of Indiana and Minister to Prussia (see notes to lot 281). The two locks carefully folded into a sheet of old lined paper to form a small packet, 26 x 110mm. (1 x 4 1/4 in.), labelled on the outside in ink (probably by Caroline Wright): "President & Mrs. Lincoln's Hair."
[with] Four clippings of hair, each folded into a sheet of lined paper with ink label, reportedly from: 1) Secretary of State William H. Seward (labelled on the packet, "W.H. Seward), 2) Schuyler Colfax (labelled "Colfax"), 3) Charles Sumner (so labelled on packet), 4) Simon Cameron (labelled "Sim Cameron Penns."); together 5 packets.
From the letter of Mary Lincoln thanking Caroline Wright for a wreath of hair (see lot 281), it appears likely that Mrs. Wright collected the hair of the President, First Lady and other political notables and perhaps planned to use them in an elaborate piece of hair jewelry. The locks were probably obtained at about the same time as that letter, in the early months of 1865. For obvious reasons, sold not subject to return. (5)
[with] Four clippings of hair, each folded into a sheet of lined paper with ink label, reportedly from: 1) Secretary of State William H. Seward (labelled on the packet, "W.H. Seward), 2) Schuyler Colfax (labelled "Colfax"), 3) Charles Sumner (so labelled on packet), 4) Simon Cameron (labelled "Sim Cameron Penns."); together 5 packets.
From the letter of Mary Lincoln thanking Caroline Wright for a wreath of hair (see lot 281), it appears likely that Mrs. Wright collected the hair of the President, First Lady and other political notables and perhaps planned to use them in an elaborate piece of hair jewelry. The locks were probably obtained at about the same time as that letter, in the early months of 1865. For obvious reasons, sold not subject to return. (5)