A rare and historic collection of Abraham Lincoln-related artifacts is set to go under the hammer in an exclusive auction hosted in Chicago, Illinois—the state Lincoln once called home.
Presented by the Lincoln Presidential Foundation, the auction will feature approximately 140 items, including two pieces of clothing Lincoln wore on the night of his assassination, making this a significant event for collectors and history enthusiasts alike.
Among the standout items is the earliest known sample of Lincoln’s writing, dating back to when he was around 15 years old. The artifact, a double-sided sum book filled with long division problems, features a verse penned and signed by the future president three times:
Abraham Lincoln is my name / And with my pen I wrote the same / I wrote in both haste and speed / and left it here for fools to read.”
This extraordinary piece of history carries a pre-sale estimate of $300,000 to $400,000, reflecting its immense value.
To build anticipation for the May 21 sale, a multi-city exhibition tour is showcasing these rare artifacts. The first stop in New York runs through Saturday, followed by Palm Beach from April 10-11 and April 14-17. Subsequent stops include Philadelphia (April 23-26), Cincinnati (April 29-May 2), and the final viewing in Chicago from May 12-21.