Abraham Lincoln’s blood-stained gloves and John Wilkes Booth wanted posters will hit the auction block as the Lincoln Presidential Foundation sells 144 historical artifacts to settle nearly $8 million in debt while preserving most of its precious collection.
At a Glance
- The Lincoln Presidential Foundation is auctioning 144 artifacts from its 1,540-item Taper Collection to pay off a $7.8 million loan balance
- Items include Lincoln manuscripts, photographs, books, and personal effects, while retaining over 90% of the collection
- The auction, handled by Freeman’s | Hindman in Chicago, follows the end of the Foundation’s relationship with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in 2021
- The Foundation has rebranded and broadened its mission to promote Lincoln scholarship through partnerships with the Lincoln Home National Historic Site and National Park Service
Financial Necessity Drives Historic Auction
The Lincoln Presidential Foundation has made the difficult decision to auction 144 pieces from its extensive Taper Collection to address significant financial obligations. The auction, scheduled for May 21 in Chicago and managed by Freeman’s | Hindman, represents less than 10% of the Foundation’s 1,540-item collection of Lincoln memorabilia.
The sale aims to retire the remaining $7.8 million loan balance on the collection, which was originally purchased in 2007 for $23 million with the intention of eventually donating it to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM).
Erin Carlson Mast, head of the Foundation, explained the careful selection process for the auction: “Countless factors go into a decision like this. For example, items were selected to represent the entirety of Abraham Lincoln’s life as well as his legacy, a range of collecting interests and a range of estimated values. We also sought to minimize the number of items we had to sell – and we’re delighted that the approved plan will allow us to retain over 90% of the collection.”
Lincoln’s Blood-Stained Gloves From the Night of His Assassination Among 144 Artifacts Up for Auction
Treasured artifacts associated with President Abraham Lincoln were on the auction block Wednesday, separated from a collection that was intended to be available for public… pic.twitter.com/OVt6xJakEX
— AfrikTimes International (@afriktimesint) May 22, 2025
Preserving Lincoln’s Legacy
Despite the auction, the Foundation will retain approximately 1,400 objects for research, programming, and public exhibits. This careful curation ensures that the most significant artifacts remain accessible for scholarly and educational purposes. The collection includes a controversial stovepipe hat purportedly belonging to Lincoln, which the Foundation has chosen to keep. Any proceeds exceeding the loan repayment amount will be directed toward the care and display of the remaining collection items.
“Collections hold layers of stories that provide insight into both the past and the present,” said Erin Carlson Mast.
The auction offers a wide range of items that tell the story of Abraham Lincoln’s life and legacy. Collectors and historians will have the opportunity to bid on manuscripts, photographs, books, personal effects, and sculptural items related to both Abraham and Mary Lincoln. These artifacts represent various aspects of Lincoln’s presidency, his personal life, and the tragic circumstances of his assassination, providing tangible connections to one of America’s most revered leaders.
New Direction for the Foundation
The relationship between the Foundation and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum ended in 2021, prompting the removal of the collection from the museum in 2022. Since then, the Foundation has undergone significant changes, including rebranding itself as the Lincoln Presidential Foundation and broadening its mission beyond supporting the ALPLM to promoting Lincoln scholarship and legacy more generally.
As part of its new direction, the Foundation has formed partnerships with the Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the National Park Service to continue providing exhibits and educational programs. These collaborations ensure that the Foundation can maintain its commitment to making Lincoln’s legacy accessible to the public and future generations of Americans, despite the financial challenges that necessitated the auction. The collection continues to be available for scholarly research and public exhibits through these new partnerships.
