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Details
LINCOLN, Abraham. Gold and black enamel monogrammed cuff-links, owned by President Lincoln. American-made. Mid-nineteeenth century.
Circular, each 11/16 in. in diameter (9/16 x measure). Finely wrought with black enamel gothic letter "L" on an engraved ground of scrollwork, surrounded by a thin gold frame. Bronze hold backs on verso.
A PAIR OF BUTTON COVERS WORN BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN. The finely detailed tracery work that surrounds the letter "L" is a style popular in mid-nineteenth century America. This pair of monogrammed cuff-links are similar in overall appearance to the monogrammed sleeve-buttons worn by the President at Ford's Theatre on the fateful night of April 14, 1865. Two buttons from that set are extant. One, in the Library of Congress, is part of a group of personal items worn by Lincoln or carried in his pocket at the time of the assassination. (For an image see https://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/stern-lincoln/objects.html.) A second oval monogrammed button was sold at Christie's, 2 June 1990, lot 89; it had been given by Mrs. Lincoln to Dr. Charles Sabin Taft, one of the physicians who attended the mortally wounded President.
Provenance: President Lincoln - Mary Todd Lincoln - Robert Todd Lincoln - Jessie Harlan Lincoln (m. Warren Beckwith) - Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith (1904-1985) - Doris Holland Beckwitt (step-daughter of the preceding, m. Robert Crans) - Robert Crans Jr. (1962--). (2)
Circular, each 11/16 in. in diameter (9/16 x measure). Finely wrought with black enamel gothic letter "L" on an engraved ground of scrollwork, surrounded by a thin gold frame. Bronze hold backs on verso.
A PAIR OF BUTTON COVERS WORN BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN. The finely detailed tracery work that surrounds the letter "L" is a style popular in mid-nineteenth century America. This pair of monogrammed cuff-links are similar in overall appearance to the monogrammed sleeve-buttons worn by the President at Ford's Theatre on the fateful night of April 14, 1865. Two buttons from that set are extant. One, in the Library of Congress, is part of a group of personal items worn by Lincoln or carried in his pocket at the time of the assassination. (For an image see https://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/stern-lincoln/objects.html.) A second oval monogrammed button was sold at Christie's, 2 June 1990, lot 89; it had been given by Mrs. Lincoln to Dr. Charles Sabin Taft, one of the physicians who attended the mortally wounded President.
Provenance: President Lincoln - Mary Todd Lincoln - Robert Todd Lincoln - Jessie Harlan Lincoln (m. Warren Beckwith) - Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith (1904-1985) - Doris Holland Beckwitt (step-daughter of the preceding, m. Robert Crans) - Robert Crans Jr. (1962--). (2)
Sale room notice
Please note that these are button covers, rather than cufflinks.