Bidding War Erupts Over Lincoln's Blood-Stained Gloves
Portrait of Abraham Lincoln, 1863. Photo by Alexander Gardner. Public domain.
They sat quietly in Abraham Lincoln's coat pocket the night America's 16th president was assassinated. More than 150 years later, those same blood-stained white leather gloves ignited a bidding war in a packed Chicago auction house — where history met the hammer, and curiosity met its price.
A Glimpse into History, at a Price
On May 22, 2025, Freeman's | Hindman in Chicago held an auction unlike most. Among the 144 items up for bid was an extraordinary piece of American history: a pair of white kid leather gloves stained with the blood of President Lincoln, worn the night he was shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater in 1865. The gloves weren't just a highlight — they were the top lot, fetching a staggering $1.52 million, buyer's premium included.
Why Were They for Sale?
The auction wasn't merely about rare memorabilia changing hands. It was also the result of financial strain. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Foundation had purchased a trove of Lincoln-related items back in 2007 — 1,540 artifacts in all — from California collector Louise Taper. The goal was to give the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum a more tangible and visual storytelling component beyond manuscripts and papers.
However, the foundation never fully paid off the $23 million loan used to acquire the collection. Even after offloading some items over the years, an $8 million balance lingered. The May auction was organized to finally resolve that debt. According to the foundation's website, any funds left after repayment will go toward preserving the remaining collection.
Bidding for the Past
The auction brought in nearly $7.9 million across 136 of the 144 lots sold. While the gloves were the priciest item, other pieces captured plenty of interest. A handkerchief Lincoln carried the night he died sold for $826,000. A "Wanted" poster featuring the conspirators in Lincoln's assassination — Booth among them — soared to $762,500, far beyond its $120,000 high estimate. Even the earliest known sample of Lincoln's handwriting, dated 1824, commanded $521,200.
In a statement, Freeman's | Hindman CEO Alyssa Quinlan called the sale a landmark event for collectors of historic Americana, noting that bidders came from all walks of life, including seasoned historians, first-time buyers, and philanthropists alike.
From Legacy to Liability
It's worth noting that the Lincoln Presidential Foundation's collection has seen its share of controversy. One once-prized item — a stovepipe hat allegedly belonging to Lincoln — was valued at $6 million. But a 2019 study cast serious doubt on its authenticity, revealing no concrete evidence connecting it to the late president. That hat was excluded from this sale, but its scrutiny raised broader questions about provenance, preservation, and public trust.
A Nation's Fascination With Lincoln Lives On
The emotional pull of Lincoln's story — his leadership through civil war, his eloquence, and his tragic end — remains powerful. That pull was on full display at the auction, where fragments of the past were sold not just as relics, but as links to one of America's most defining moments. The fact that a single pair of gloves, darkened by the president's own blood, could command over $1.5 million speaks volumes about the nation's enduring connection to Lincoln — and the market for items tied to him.
References: Abraham Lincoln's Bloodstained Gloves From the Night of His Assassination Among 144 Artifacts on Auction | Abraham Lincoln's Bloodied Gloves Fetch a Stunning $1.5 Million at Auction | Lincoln's Blood-Stained Gloves From the Night of His Assassination Among 144 Artifacts on Auction
