ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSASSINATION RELIC
An incredible relic from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, a small section of the blood-stained sheet upon which Lincoln lay in his final hours. This rare relic was obtained by Charles K. Tuckerman (1821-1896), an author, politician, and the first American Minister to Greece, who was in Washington at the time of Lincoln's assassination. The original, larger mounted section of cloth, found in Tuckerman's papers, bore on the paper mount his initialed provenance: "Relic from the death bed of Abraham Lincoln, stained with his blood. Taken from his death chamber. C. K. T.".This smaller piece of the sheet measures approximately 5/8" x 1/2" and is contained within a plastic sleeve. A copy of the original sheet and Tuckerman's provenance is included in the lot. Also included is a copy of a letter by autograph expert and dealer Mary Benjamin on Walter R. Benjamin letterhead, 1p. 4to., New York, June 2, 1961 to Norm Flayderman Antique Firearms in which Benjamin states: "…It is a piece of the linen sheet taken from Lincoln's deathbed in the Peterson House [across the street from Ford's Theater]... It came to me with the Charles K. Tuckerman papers…[Tuckerman was] in Washington at the time of Lincoln's death…it was included in an album of his letters, bearing his authentication…I had no reason to question or doubt it in any way…" We personally witnessed our consignor dividing this relic into smaller pieces and will include our COA on request. An important relic, with excellent provenance - a must-have for any Lincoln collector.