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Abraham Lincoln: Exquisite Pocket Knife Presented to the President at the 1864 Philadelphia Sanitary Fair.... (Total: 2 Items)
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Description
Abraham Lincoln: Exquisite Pocket Knife Presented to the President at the 1864 Philadelphia Sanitary Fair. Lincoln, Abraham. Custom Made Pocket Knife with Oak Presentation Box and Lincoln's Letter of Acknowledgement signed ("A. Lincoln") to the Organizers of the Great Central Sanitary Fair held in Philadelphia 7-28 June 1864.President Lincoln graciously accepts a custom pocket knife in presentation box for attending the Great Central Sanitary Fair held in Philadelphia on 16 June 1864 and writes a letter of thanks to the organizers. This would be Lincoln's last Sanitary Fair he would ever attend to raise funds to aid wounded Union soldiers.
The Letter:
Abraham Lincoln letter signed ("A. Lincoln") as President, 1 page, 8" x 10", on Executive Mansion stationery, Washington, 17 October 1864, to "Mr. A. B. Justice & others." General soiling with reinforcements to folds.
Lincoln writes, in full:
"Mr. A. B. Justice & others:
I have received at the hands of Wm. D. Kelley, a very beautiful and ingeniously constructed Pocket Knife, accompanied by your kind letter of presentation. The gift is gratefully accepted and will be highly valued, not only as an extremely creditable specimen of American workmanship, but as a manifestation of your regard and esteem which I most cordially appreciate.
Your Ob't serv't
A. Lincoln"
Published in The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, ed. Basler, 7:394-5; Martin C. Carlino, "The Sanitary Fair's Gifts to President Lincoln," in Railsplitter, Spring 2010, v.13, nos. 3-4, pp. 12-18. A.B. Justice's original letter is in the Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress.
The Presentation Knife:
Custom crafted knife measuring 4.5" long (3.75" blade length), with large, elegantly re-curved handle, paneled in white mother-of-pearl with small inlaid gold plaque engraved "ABRAHAM LINCOLN", fitted with polished steel scissors, file, and five assorted blades, two of which bear elaborate decorative damascened inscriptions: Primary blade: "Liberty, July 4th 1776. Abraham Lincoln, Jany. 1st, EQUALITY. 1864. Secondary blade: "Presented to the Philadelphia Sanitary Fair by A.B. Justice, June 1864." Each blade bears maker's mark "J. Ward & Co., Bronxville, New York."
The Presentation Box:
The knife is housed in a custom-fitted hinged oak box measuring 5.25" x 1.25", the top of the lid is inlaid with an American eagle surrounded by 13 small inlaid stars. The plush-lined, satin lid interior bears the legend: "THIS BOX / Is made from the Wood and Iron, formerly Supporting the / "OLD LIBERTY BELL," / Now in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, / And Presented to the Great Central Fair, in aid of the U.S. Sanitary / Commission, June, 1864, by A. B. Justice."
An extraordinary ensemble, documenting Lincoln's generosity in supporting and attending the Great Central Sanitary Fair, held in Philadelphia from 7-28 June, while the Union armies fought bloody battles across northern Virginia in Ulysses S. Grant's spring offensive. The fair raised just over one million dollars in aid of wounded soldiers. This would be the last Sanitary Fair Lincoln would ever attend. The organizers were well aware that the President's presence had done much to aid their fund-raising efforts. "Of all the fairs Lincoln attended, Philadelphia's occupied the greatest amount of his time..." (Carlino, p. 15). On his visit, 16 June, Lincoln was accompanied by Mary Todd Lincoln and their son Tad. After the fair, committee member Alfred B. Justice forwarded this knife with a flowery letter signed by 135 citizens, testifying to their "profound respect for you as a man and a statesman."
Previously sold at Sotheby's 1989 auction realizing $99,825. Whether it resulted from impressive detective work or extraordinary good fortune, it is remarkable that a previous owner was able to unite this knife with Lincoln's delightful thank-you letter, creating a beautiful grouping for display. Certainly one of the most significant and appealing personally-owned Lincoln artifacts we have ever encountered!
Auction Info
2022 February 12 - 13 Lincoln and His Times Americana & Political Signature® Auction #6251 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
February, 2022
12th-13th
Saturday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 8
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