Actual Hairs of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln - Relic

A collection of hair strands belonging to Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln was presented to Mrs. Caroline Wright, the spouse of Indiana Governor Joseph A. Wright, as a gesture of friendship following Lincoln's inauguration in 1865. Mrs. Wright was known for her active pursuit of hair from notable political figures during the latter part of the 19th century. These historical artifacts remained within the Wright family until they were eventually auctioned by Christie's in 1992.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was assassinated by the renowned stage actor John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, while he was attending the play Our American Cousin at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. Lincoln was shot in the head during the performance and succumbed to his injuries the following morning at 7:22 am in the Petersen House, located across from the theater. He was the first U.S. president to be assassinated, and his funeral and burial initiated a prolonged period of national mourning.

The assassination occurred towards the conclusion of the American Civil War and was part of a broader conspiracy orchestrated by Booth to rejuvenate the Confederate cause by eliminating the three most significant officials in the U.S. government. Conspirators Lewis Powell and David Herold were designated to assassinate Secretary of State William H. Seward, while George Atzerodt was assigned to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson. The plot ultimately failed beyond Lincoln's assassination: Seward sustained only injuries, and Johnson's assailant lost his resolve. Following a dramatic escape, Booth was killed after a 12-day manhunt. Powell, Herold, Atzerodt, and Mary Surratt were subsequently executed for their involvement in the conspiracy.