Lot #8069

Abraham Lincoln

Description

Rarely offered at auction, a substantial lock of Lincoln's hair from the collection of renowned Lincoln expert Frederick Meserve, certified by Charles Hamilton: "There is no doubt that this is the authentic hair of Abraham Lincoln"

Extraordinary, large lock of Abraham Lincoln's hair from the collection of noted Lincoln expert Frederick H. Meserve, and certified by renowned autograph dealer Charles Hamilton. The lock of brown hair, tied with a white ribbon, measures approximately 3.5″ long and is handsomely displayed in a custom-made red cloth folding case with quarter red morocco slipcase, gilt-stamped on the spine: "Abraham Lincoln's Hair, ca. 1860's." In fine condition. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by Charles Hamilton, in full: "I certify that I personally removed the accompanying strands of hair from a lock of hair in an old frame (made in 1908) by Judd Stewart from wood removed from the Lincoln home in Springfield. The hair bore on its frame authentication written by Frederick H. Meserve, the famous Lincoln expert, and was from his personal collection of Lincoln memorabilia. In my opinion, there is no doubt that this is the authentic hair of Abraham Lincoln." Such large locks of Lincoln's hair are rarely offered.

Frederick H. Meserve (1865-1962) was a world-renowned collector of Lincoln and Civil War-era photography, remembered for compiling a catalog of known Lincoln images. Much of Meserve's collection of Lincolniana is now held by Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

Auction Info

• Auction Title: Presidents
• Dates: #603 - Ended February 18, 2021