A pair of leather gloves once worn by President Abraham Lincoln on the night of his assassination sold for a staggering $1.5 million at auction this week, drawing global attention to a trove of artifacts intimately tied to one of the most pivotal moments in American history.
The gloves—believed to be stained with Lincoln’s blood—were part of a collection of personal effects placed on the auction block by the Lincoln Presidential Foundation, which is grappling with mounting financial pressures. The sale, held Wednesday by Freeman’s | Hindman in Chicago, drew bids from collectors in person, online, and by phone.
Another somber relic, a handkerchief Lincoln carried with him to Ford’s Theatre on the night of April 14, 1865, garnered $826,000. Like the gloves, the handkerchief was presented as potentially bearing the president’s blood. Auctioneers described it as a deeply personal item, emblematic of Lincoln’s final moments and the tragic end of a presidency that reshaped a nation.
Adding to the historic allure was a gold and onyx cufflink-style button, engraved with the letter “L.” This button was reportedly removed by a physician attempting to check Lincoln’s pulse as he lay dying. The item sold for $445,000.
Altogether, the auction brought in nearly $7.9 million, including a 28% buyer’s premium—a standard surcharge added to winning bids to help offset the costs of organizing high-profile sales. The event highlighted enduring public fascination with Lincoln’s legacy and the tangible remnants of his life and untimely death.
The auction came at a crucial time for the Lincoln Presidential Foundation, which turned to the historic sale to stabilize its finances. While the sale achieved substantial figures, it also sparked renewed debate among historians and the public over whether such nationally significant artifacts should remain in private hands or reside in public institutions for educational and cultural preservation.
