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Lot #500
Lincoln Assassination: Ford's Theatre 'Our American Cousin' Playbill (Contemporary Reprint by L. Brown)

Estimate: $1000+

The 30 Minute Rule begins July 15 at 7:00 PM EDT. An Initial Bid Must Be Placed By July 15 at 6:00 PM EDT To Participate After 6:00 PM EDT

Server Time: 6/19/2026 09:38:00 AM EDT
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Description

Printed playbill, 5 x 17, contemporary after April 14, 1865, reading, in part, “FORD’S THEATRE…Season 11 Week XXXI Night 191…Friday Evening, April 14th, 1865. THIS EVENING The Performance will be honored by the presence of PRESIDENT LINCOLN.” Playbill also carries the imprint of “L. Brown, Printer, Washington, D. C.” along the bottom. Framed to an overall size of 6 x 18. In very good to fine condition, with a couple tiny areas of paper loss.

In the aftermath of Lincoln's assassination, mourners and collectors clamored for anything associated with that fateful day. Capitalizing on this newfound demand, several contemporary reprints of the Ford's Theatre playbill for Our American Cousin were created. In this case, L. Brown, a charlatan printer, added a line not seen on the originals: "This Evening: the performance will be honored by the presence of President Lincoln."

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