Broadside detailing Lincoln funeral procession among Civil War rarities in Hall

(EMAILWIRE.COM, December 12, 2006 ) PARIS, IL – Although lost to his nation through senseless violence 141 years ago, Abraham Lincoln is destined never to be forgotten, and mementos pertaining to the 16th president perpetually rank at the top of many a political collector’s wish list. Several rarities in Hall’s Auction’s Dec. 17 sale are expected to spur widespread interest among Lincoln enthusiasts, including a black-bordered broadside (poster) that lists the dignitaries and military officials in the slain president’s May 4, 1865 funeral procession through Springfield, Ill.“It was part of a collection and previously was purchased from a very notable auction house,” said Hall’s owner, Scott M. Hall. “It’s in very good condition with only a few minor tears. We estimate it could bring $1,500-$2,500.”A stereoptical card of soldiers guarding Lincoln’s hearse at its stop at the Indiana State Capitol Building is similar to an example shown in the Dorothy and Philip Kunhardt Jr. book Twenty Days – The Farewell to Lincoln. “Very few cards like this one have ever been seen. We’re not putting an estimate on it,” said Hall.A ferrotype campaign jugate picturing candidate Lincoln on one side and his vice-presidential running mate, Hannibal Hamlin, on verso is estimated at $1,000-$1,500; while an important 1907 V.D. Brenner plaque of Lincoln, bronze on green marble, might achieve $2,500-$3,500, a price range in which it has sold in the past. The plaque carries the same image of Lincoln that later was chosen for use on the Lincoln penny. “I’ve heard that Brenner, who was a Russian sculptor, created the bronze plaque using a photograph of Lincoln. When President (Franklin D.) Roosevelt saw the bust of Lincoln on one of these plaques after they were released, he chose the image to be on the new penny,” said Hall. The easel-type stand built into the back of the plaque is stamped with the numeral 2. Hall says this may indicate that the plaque was the second one made in a series of 25 to 50 plaques. “Reports vary on how many were made.”The Civil War section of the 600-lot sale is highlighted by a complete collection of 16 Civil War merchant tokens from Oshkosh, Wis. “There’s a token for each one of the 16 stores in Oshkosh that issued and accepted these tokens in lieu of money during the war,” Hall explained. “At the time, coins were in short supply. There was a general lack of faith in paper money, so people were hoarding coins, which contained valuable metals. The merchants would order tokens and have their store names put on them.” Hall said collectors aspire to own an example from each merchant in a given city. “But it you were going to collect all the different merchant tokens for a city, it would take some time to gather them all. Here we have a complete collection for one town, and in very good condition.” In a similar vein, the sale includes Civil War encased stamps, which also served as money during the Civil War coin shortage. All forms of bidding are available for Hall’s Dec. 17 auction, including live via the Internet through www.proxibid.com. For additional information, call 217-251-7653. View the electronic catalog online at www.hallsauctioncompany.com.Written by Catherine Saunders-Watson – Editor. Published by ASMarketingCenter.com a division of www.auctionservices.com and the www.nationalauctionlist.com with permission from Antique Trader - www.antiquetrader.com.# # #

Halls Auction Company
Scott Hall

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