Overview

• The May 21 auction, managed by Freeman’s-Hindman in Chicago, sold 136 of 144 lots, generating $7.9 million, including premiums.
• Top-selling items included Lincoln’s blood-stained gloves from the night of his assassination, which fetched $1.52 million, surpassing their appraisal of $1.2 million.
• Proceeds from the auction will fully retire the foundation’s remaining loan balance, with any surplus allocated to ongoing collection care and display.
• The auction represents less than 10% of the foundation’s 1,540-item Lincolniana collection, originally acquired in 2007 via a $23 million loan and $2 million donation.
• Critics, including former collection owner Louise Taper, have expressed concern over the potential loss of public access to these cultural artifacts now likely headed to private collections.