MARY TODD LINCOLN'S BLACK MOURNING FAN
A rare and important Mary Lincoln mourning item, a folding black mourning fan used by Mary Todd Lincoln and descended in the family through her son Robert Todd Lincoln. The 11 1/4" tall fan is comprised of black wood with black silk cloth and it opens to 20 1/2" from edge to edge. The cloth and wood remain in excellent condition showing no damage. Mrs. Lincoln essentially suffered a nervous breakdown following the death of her husband, and also wore mourning for the rest of her life. The fan is accompanied by substantial provenance in the form of three letters from direct Lincoln descendants. It includes: a copy of the August 16, 1977 signed affidavit of ROBERT TODD LINCOLN BECKWITH, the grandson of Abraham and Mary Lincoln's son, ROBERT TODD LINCOLN. In the affidavit, Beckwith states that his grandmother, Mary Harlan Lincoln (Robert's wife), had left several trunks in the attic of "Hildene", the estate she and her husband Robert Todd Lincoln owned in Manchester, Vermont. Beckwith further attests that he had been bequeathed these trunks and upon opening them, discovered items his grandmother had indicated with notes as having been owned by Mary Todd Lincoln. Beckwith lists the objects, many obviously Mary Lincoln's, along with "5 Black fans". In a Sep. 12, 1977 "Deed of Gift", Beckwith gives "1 Black Fan" mentioned in the affidavit to Margaret Fristoe (Beckwith), his wife. A June 21st, 2010 notarized statement from Lenora Fristoe Hoverson, daughter of Margaret Fristoe Beckwith is also present again setting forth the background on the family-owned Mary Lincoln items, her family tree, and her consignment of pieces to Cowan's Auction. Finally, there is a July 8, 2010 letter from Cowan's sending the original of Lenora Hoverson's affidavit. Solid provenance on a piece so representative of Lincoln's assassination and his widow's tragic life thereafter.