Description:

A piece of the flag which cradled Abraham Lincoln's head in Ford's Theatre after he was shot by John Wilkes Booth!

A .25" x 1" swatch of red fabric, removed from the flag which was purportedly used by actress Jeannie Gourlay to cradle Lincoln's head in the box at Ford's Theatre soon after he was shot by John Wilkes Booth. Very good condition.

The relic is housed in a small plastic sleeve together with a copy of the original provenance that accompanied it which identifies it as "... part of the flag which Covered Lincoln's body as it was carried from Ford's Theatre the night he was Shot ..." The remnant is believed to be from the famous Gourlay flag which is now part of the collections of the Pike County Historical Society in Pennsylvania. Thomas Gourlay, a part-time stage manager, and father of Jeannie Gourlay, one of the leading stars of the Ford's Theatre company who was also on stage in the cast of Our American Cousin, was believed to have grabbed one of the American flags in the box to cushion Lincoln's head as he lay wounded. Gourlay retained the flag, and before his death in the 1880s, he gave it to his daughter Jeannie. Her son, V. Paul Struthers donated the flag to the Pike County Historical Society in Pennsylvania in 1954 where it remains today.

As with many relics, especially significant flags associated with a major historical event, pieces were often clipped as souvenirs and it is more than reasonable to assume that is how this piece became separated from the original. It is important to observe however that the author of the note was mistaken in the flag's use as there is no evidence that a flag had been draped over Lincoln as he was moved from Ford's Theatre to the Petersen house.

Provenance: American Heritage Autographs and Collectibles; Milford Museum; Sunflower Auction; the Geiger Collection.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. Shipping and handling costs are competitive, we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx and USPS to P.O. Boxes only. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT and may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see Terms and Conditions of Sale.

January 28, 2016 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 20% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000