The Henry Luhrs & Lincoln Library Collection Auction Realizes $3.2 Million at Heritage Auction Galleries

Dallas, Texas: An incredible collection of Lincolniana, manuscripts, autographs, rare books, and Americana was presented by Heritage Auction Galleries, February 21 & 22 in Dallas. Anchored by the Henry Luhrs & Lincoln Library Collection, the auction realized $3,211,407 (with the total still rising due to after-auction sales). Heritage conducted the main auction in Dallas, with a very active simulcast in New York City.

This spectacular event was remarkable for the wide range of material included, and was particularly strong in material from Lincoln and early America. According to Tom Slater, Heritage's Americana Director, "The Luhrs Collection was one of the most significant and extensive to be auctioned in years, and the largest such event that Heritage has held in this important collecting specialty."

"Henry Luhrs," continued Slater, "was a 'Collector's collector,' a man of sophisticated and varied tastes whose collection was eclectic and wide-ranging, and most impressive in autographs of American Presidents and historical figures. Collectors seeking 'fresh' material were ecstatic, as every item had been off the market for at least forty years - and some for eighty years, as Mr. Luhrs collected from the 1930s to 1960."

"The response to this auction has been even stronger than we had hoped," concluded Slater. "Some 2500 individuals who were not previously Heritage clients requested catalogs, and the auction produced 125 first-time bidders who spent $1000 or more! Such numbers are unprecedented in our business, and shows what can happen when great, fresh material is presented effectively and well publicized. Much of the material in the Luhrs collection was highly specialized. Our researchers made exhaustive efforts to highlight the important, historic nature of many of these items, and the bidders responded with prices which were often multiples of pre-sale estimates."

The most valuable lot in the auction was a very important document for both Lincoln and Civil War collectors. Lot 25033 was a significant autograph letter signed by President-elect Abraham Lincoln and written to Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin, advising him to address the growing secession crisis in his inaugural speech. The "Confidential" Springfield, Illinois letter of December 21, 1860 advises Curtin "to express, without passion, threat, or appearance of boasting, but nevertheless, with firmness, the purpose of yourself and your state to maintain the Union at all hazards." Estimated at $80,000-$120,000, the lot realized $131,450.

One of the most extraordinary Lincoln items in existence, and certainly the most romantic Lincolniana item in the Luhrs Collection was the gold watch that Abraham Lincoln bought in 1841 as a wedding gift for Mary Todd (and which she never saw); Lot 25134 realized $71,700. Mary Todd was a highly-educated Southern belle, who, curiously, had also been courted by the "little giant" Stephen Douglas and most of the other bachelors in Springfield. She fell in love with Lincoln, but after their engagement in 1840, their differing tastes, ambitions, and backgrounds yielded complications. Looking ahead to his 1841 nuptials, the self-taught attorney bought a wedding present suitable for his sophisticated young fiancée - a blue enameled, diamond-studded, 18-karat gold timepiece engraved "To Miss Mary Todd from A.L. 1841" on the inside back cover. Historians may never know exactly how or why the wedding was cancelled on the first of January, 1841, but Lincoln gave the watch away. Lincoln and Mary Todd did finally marry (on November 4, 1842), but the watch was long gone by then.

Lot 25034 was one of the more interesting lots in the Luhrs Collection: Lincoln's warrant for his Thanksgiving Day Proclamation. Partly-printed and signed "Abraham Lincoln" on October 3, 1863, it authorizes the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to the first Presidential Proclamation designating the last Thursday in November as a day of Thanksgiving. This was the first in the unbroken string of annual Thanksgiving proclamations - the true beginning of America's national holiday. This important document realized $33,460.

An extremely important bound collection containing letters and documents signed by all 55 delegates to the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787 comprised Lot 25409, and realized $83,650. When the Convention met in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, few would have guessed that they would produce an entirely new form of government which has endured for more than two centuries - especially after the failure of the Annapolis Convention one year earlier. The letters and documents are all neatly tipped-in on pages housed in a custom pair of large red morocco folio volumes, bound circa 1890, with engraved portraits of the delegates.

One of the most fascinating items dealing with early America was Lot 25312, a three-page letter signed by three Signers of the Declaration of Independence who were also members of the Secret Committee. Richard Henry Lee (1732-1794), wrote and signed the letter, which was also signed by fellow Signers Francis Lewis and William Whipple. The Secret Committee was the first intelligence directorate for the U.S., dealing with a variety of foreign affairs issues (including arranging trade for military stores). This letter, from Baltimore, February 6, 1777 described efforts to finance the Revolutionary War through trade with France and her Caribbean colonies. The cataloger noted that "Letters regarding foreign trade to finance military operations in the Revolutionary War are significant -- one signed by three Founding Fathers has tremendous verve attached." The numerous bidders apparently agreed, as the $8,000-12,000 estimate was well surpassed by a $65,725 final price realized.

Lot 25838, an original leaf from a Gutenberg Bible, realized $41,825. The leaf, containing Isaiah 13:14 to 16:7 was printed circa 1455. The Gutenberg Bible's importance to modern civilization, through the unequalled cultural revolution of the printing press, cannot be overstated. Only 180 copies were printed, with perhaps 50 surviving today, and most collectors consider themselves lucky to own one leaf such as this.

An unprecedented twentieth century literary discovery was sold in Lot 25826, three unpublished short stories by John Steinbeck thought to have been written at the start of his career, and accompanied by some documentation. The lot contained the early stories: "The Days of Long Marsh;" "The Nymph and Isobel;" and "The Nail." The estimate of $3,000-$5,000 was dwarfed by the $41,825 price realized.

Heritage Auction Galleries is the largest collectibles auctioneer in the world, with more than 235,000 registered bidder-members. Lot descriptions, images, and prices realized information for this auction can be viewed online with free membership in Heritage's online community. Follow the "Join Now" link on our homepage at HeritageAuctions.com. Printed copies of the catalog may be ordered from Nicole Jewell at 1-800-872-6467 ext. 272.

To discuss our future auction schedule for manuscripts, books, and Americana, contact Tom Slater at 1-800-872-6467 ext. 441.

Heritage is the world's largest collectibles auctioneer with annual sales exceeding $500 million. For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of past prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit our Permanent Auction Archives at www.HeritageAuctions.com.

To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Nicole Jewell at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 272, or visit www.HeritageAuctions.com to order by email.