Description:

Lincoln Mary 1818 - 1882

Spectacular Mary Todd Lincoln signed embossed leather portfolio.

A deep chocolate brown leather correspondence folder signed and inscribed by Mary Todd Lincoln to her Henry Fowler as: "Presented to Henry S. Fowler by his friend / Mrs A. Lincoln/ Chicago / June 14th 1867." Embossed in a diamond grid with gilt ruling. Ornate polished steel escutcheon with what appears to be Florentine gilt accents. 9.75" x 7.25". Interior with damask accordion pockets, and note paper. Gilt tilts to the pockets written in French. Beautiful condition with just a slight bit of rubbing and staining to pocket interior.

A very personal artifact belonging to Mary Todd Lincoln, who spoke fluent French, and collected all things French. This piece was gifted shortly after she moved out of The White House and relocated to Chicago. Around this time, Lincoln began her effort to settle her husband's estate (she was deeply traumatized by her husband's murder, and did not move out of the White House until May 23, 1865).

She had gifted the folder in 1867 to Henry L. Fowler, who had been a childhood playmate of her son Tad Lincoln. Tad was quite rambunctious as a child in the White House, having been known to play pranks around the Executive Mansion. In the White House Tad sprayed dignitaries with the fire hose, broke mirrors, locked doors, interrupted Cabinet meetings, constructed wagons and sleds out of chairs, set up a food shop in the lobby, rang the call bells, and drilled the servants, as if they were soldiers. Abraham generally laughed at his son's tricks, and any kind of discipline was generally lacking.

By 1868, she wished to further Tad's schooling and education and had moved to Germany to enroll Tad into a boarding school. They remained there for about 3 years, and then in 1871 decided to return to the States. During the ocean voyage home, at the young age of 18, Tad Lincoln fell ill. He never fully recovered from his illness and died several months later, most likely of tuberculosis.

This is a part of a group of Mary Todd Lincoln items that descended in the family of a Mrs. Fowler of Chicago, a neighbor and friend of Mary Todd (with Henry being their son). A copy of a partial 20th century inventory and letter of provenance accompanies the lot.

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