American history enthusiasts were in for a treat when artifacts relating to U.S. president Abraham Lincoln—including his personal possessions, autograph letters, rare copies of printed works, and political campaign memorabilia—hit the auction block on May 22.

The sale took place at Freeman’s | Hindman in Chicago, Illinois, where the future president lived much of his life, practicing law before embarking on his political career; the state is now nicknamed “the Land of Lincoln.” Highlights are on a whistle-stop tour of the auctioneer’s locations in New York City, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Chicago.

“Over the last two months, it has been our honor to introduce both new and established collectors across the U.S. to these special objects and share the stories behind them,” said the auction house’s CEO, Alyssa Quinlan, in a statement. “Today we saw private collectors, benefactors, and trade buyers competing for individual items at all price levels and from all eras of Abraham Lincoln’s extraordinary life, at times far exceeding our pre-sale estimates and setting new auction benchmarks for historic Americana.

A pair of blood-stained white kid gloves carried by President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre the night of his assassination. Courtesy of Freeman’s | Hindman, 2025.

The sale was presented on behalf of the Lincoln Presidential Foundation, which has extensive holdings of Lincoln-related historical artifacts. About 140 lots were were expected to bring in excess of $4 million—the final sale totaled nearly $7.9 million, according to the auction house.

Coming in at a stunning $1.5 million was the top lot, a pair of blood-stained white kid leather gloves that the 16th president wore the night he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater, in Washington, D.C. Also on offer is a single cuff button bearing the initial “L,” fetched $445,000 against a high estimate of $300,000. It was broken off when a surgeon checked Lincoln for a pulse.

A cuff button worn by Lincoln on the night of his assassination. Courtesy of Freeman’s | Hindman, 2025.

The sale also included several pieces of Lincoln’s handwriting. One charming example from when he was just 15 shows the future president practicing long division—it fetched $521,200, surpassing its estimate. An 1837 handbill that he authored anonymously and that was distributed throughout Springfield, Illinois before a hotly contested local election, though, came in under estimate at $178,300.

Meanwhile, a dual photographic portrait of Lincoln, the Republican candidate for president, and his opposite number, senator Stephen Douglas, the Democratic party’s nominee, realized 10 times its low estimate when it sold for $6,080.

Auction houses have struck gold and made headlines with Lincolniana in recent years. Heritage Auctions conducted a $4.3 million sale in 2022, the most successful Americana event in the house’s history, topped by a $519,000 pocketknife, created custom for the president the year before his assassination. When historian Harold Holzer opted to sell more than 700 paintings and other material relating to Lincoln at Swann Auction Galleries, the New York Times took notice; the top estimate in that sale was $18,000, for a painted portrait.

“In the history of the category of American presidential material, this selection is among the most significant to come to auction,” said Christopher Brink, the house’s senior specialist and head of sale for books and manuscripts. “The sale includes a number of items previously acquired directly from Lincoln’s descendants, and many more that will be making their first appearance at public auction.”

This story was originally published on April 8. It was updated on May 22, 8.35 a.m. ET, with the auction results.