Copious lock of George Washington's stark white hair, measuring approximately 4″ long, with a handwritten letter of provenance signed "George M. Elliott," one page, C. F. Gunther Confectioner letterhead, December 7, 1889. In full: "This lock of hair was cut from the head of George Washington, about the year 1790, by a relative of his. It was presented by this same relative to Capt. Samuel Butman of Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts; with whom the aforesaid relative made several trips from Alexandria, Va, to the port of Newburyport. This valuable relic was afterwards presented by the widow of Captain Butman, to George M. Elliott, now of Philadelphia, Pa, and given by me to Mr. C. F. Gunther, of Chicago, Illinois, this day." The lock of hair is impressively mounted within an ornate shadowbox display, with the text of Elliott's letter engraved on a plaque below; the hair's frame is hinged against a large 26 x 42 frame which contains Elliot's original letter and a portrait of America's first president. In fine condition.
C. F. Gunther earned fame and fortune as a confectioner, and is said to have introduced caramel candy to America. A prominent numismatist and art collector, he assembled one of the world's largest collections of Washingtoniana and Lincolniana—this lock of hair included. Among the other top George Washington items that Gunther counted among his possessions were two of Gilbert Stuart's studies and Charles Willson Peale's portrait. After Gunther's death, his artifact collection was purchased by the Chicago Historical Society and later permanently housed at the Chicago History Museum; some objects in it were deaccessioned and disposed of at auction.
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