Price
$3,895.00
Condition
used
Product Condition
Professionally matted and framed. Very good condition, minor streak of skipped inking due to a paper fold-over, top right corner clipped and some edge wear
Size
Frame Size: 11.75" x 29.25"
1865 Rare "Brown Copy" of the Original Abraham Lincoln Assassination Playbill. As collectors know, the original copies of the Lincoln Assassination "Our American Cousin" playbill are virtually unaffordable and out of reach of collectors. In its place, are several different reprints that were produced just days the assassination and sold as souvenirs at the time. Some, like this one, were produced on the same press as the original and carry the same printers inscription at the bottom. Over the years, very few of this particular verson has appeared on the market.
This rare playbill has been professionally matted and framed with a commemorative plaque and UV conservation protected glass.
It was obtained unframed from "Early American History Auctions, Inc." in December, 2005. Its estimated auction value at the time was $3,000 - $4,500. We have included below a copy of the actual description provided in the auction catalog, as well as a link to the identical one that appears on the Library of Congress web page.
"1865 “Brown Copy” of the Original Playbill, Very Fine.
This 6” by 18” playbill was printed on the same press as the very original, immediately, just days, following Lincoln’s assassination. From the moment following the fateful gunshot, the need to possess a tangible link to the tragedy in Washington was all-encompassing. Entrepreneurs, including those directly involved with events that night, devised all sorts of “keepsakes” to sell. Case in point, the different issues of the “Ford’s Theatre Playbills.”
There were three different “Correct” and “Original” printings... one of which is theoretically known to exist with one copy thought extant. Then there were those printed the following day for the doorkeeper at Ford’s Theatre, John Buckingham, using the same press and typesetting as the originals.
The only study of the different bills and their progeny, Walter Brenner’s 1937 essay “The Ford Theatre Lincoln Assassination Playbills,” details the specimen offered here as a rare “Brown Copy,” bearing the correct publisher’s imprint, “Polkinhorn.” The Library of Congress owns just two playbills: one of the first issues and a bill identical to this example (which can be viewed on their web-page - LOC call # Portfolio 204, Folder 58e). This copy is definitely letterpress printed, on period rag, has one minor streak of skipped inking due to a paper fold-over, and is in overall very fine condition.
This 1865 issue, made immediately after the original, is certainly a desirable historic display piece."
The link to the Library of Congress image and description is located here.
From The Dan Hansen Collection
Polkinhorn's office was located a short distance away from Ford's Theatre and was the key printer for the theatre's playbills at the time.
$3,895.00
used
Professionally matted and framed. Very good condition, minor streak of skipped inking due to a paper fold-over, top right corner clipped and some edge wear
Frame Size: 11.75" x 29.25"