Title:
Abraham Lincoln Blood-Stained Towel Fragment from the Petersen House Death Chamber, April 14–15, 1865 — CAG Encapsulated
Description:
Towel fabric fragment measuring approximately 0.75" x 0.375", taken from the room in which President Abraham Lincoln died at the Petersen Boarding House in Washington, D.C., and stained with Lincoln’s blood. Unlike previously circulated relics originating from the bed sheet, this fragment derives from a towel reportedly used to bandage the President’s mortal wound, creating a more immediate physical connection to the tragic events of that night.
The swatch is encapsulated and certified by CAG (Collectible Authentication Guarantee) within a tamper-evident holder measuring approximately 2.5" x 3.5". The encapsulation preserves the textile fragment in stable condition while clearly identifying it as originating from the Lincoln death chamber. The fragment itself displays the weave and texture consistent with mid-19th-century linen toweling.
Historical Context:
On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was shot by actor John Wilkes Booth while attending a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. The wounded President was carried across the street to the Petersen Boarding House, where physicians worked through the night in a desperate but ultimately futile effort to save his life. Lincoln died at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, 1865.
Textiles used during the attempted treatment of the President—sheets and towels employed to staunch the bleeding from his head wound—became some of the most poignant relics of the assassination. Fragments from towels are understood to be scarcer than bed sheet relics, given the comparatively smaller size of the original textile and their direct application in tending to Lincoln’s wound. As such, surviving towel fragments represent an especially intimate and solemn connection to the final hours of Lincoln’s life and to one of the defining tragedies in American history.
Authentication & Encapsulation:
Encapsulated and certified by CAG (Collectible Authentication Guarantee), with certification number and holographic security elements visible on the holder. The encapsulation measures approximately 2.5" x 3.5" and provides tamper-evident protection and long-term preservation.
Closing Appeal:
Few artifacts carry the emotional and historical gravity of a textile fragment present in the death chamber of Abraham Lincoln. This towel swatch—reportedly used in the effort to treat the President’s fatal wound—offers a direct and deeply moving connection to the closing chapter of the Civil War and the loss of one of America’s most revered leaders, making it an extraordinary and solemn acquisition for serious collectors of Lincoln and Civil War history.
Shipping Notice:
For insurance purposes, items sold over $600 may require signature confirmation upon delivery. Higher-value items, likely over $1,500, are shipped via FedEx 2-Day with Direct Signature Confirmation. FedEx provides the most flexibility when requiring a signature, allowing you to make special delivery requests directly through their tracking system. This ensures both security and convenience for the buyer.
