Possible Lincoln artifact discovered!

[RJNorton]

Laurie, there is another example of her signature as "Mrs. A. Lincoln" on this page.

I looked through the Turners' book, and there are other examples of her employing "Mrs. A. Lincoln" as her signature. However, this manner of signing her name is in the minority.

[L Verge]

(06-23-2016 04:42 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Laurie, there is another example of her signature as "Mrs. A. Lincoln" on this page.

I looked through the Turners' book, and there are other examples of her employing "Mrs. A. Lincoln" as her signature. However, this manner of signing her name is in the minority.

Thanks, Roger. That cleared up my doubts, but some of the letters sure resemble her husband's style. Maybe she got good at forging his signature -- just kidding!

Just noticed the two ditto marks after what I think is "White." I bet that means "white center table." The price is comparable to the Egyptian center table listed right above that. Still confused over what I read as "Blinds." If the next to the last letter (that I read as "d") could be removed, it could pass for "Chairs."

[Tadsecrete]

    Factoid: John L. Alston was one of the 100 people to represent Chicago at President Lincoln's funeral in Springfield.

This is the Parlor Suite that John Alston purchased from Mrs. Lincoln.

[Eva Elisabeth]

I skimmed the Turner's book and the letters I spotted she signed "Mrs. A. Lincoln" were "business" or official letters, like to dealers concerning expensive purchases (WH china), recommendations for offices/positions, or the letter to the wounded soldier's mother etc. where a certain emphasis of status might have been beneficial as given the impression of her acting on behalf of her husband, too. Not sure - were women in her days already allowed to sign contracts (which a bill to some extent is)? She was also proud of being Mrs. A. Lincoln and in "formal"/"official " affairs/with strangers she might have wanted to demonstrate "status". AFAIK this was common practice here, too. In Austria even until the second half of the last (!) century a woman married to a professor was to be called "Mrs. Professor " although she didn't hold the title.

[RJNorton]

(06-23-2016 07:36 PM)Tadsecrete Wrote:  Factoid: John L. Alston was one of the 100 people to represent Chicago at President Lincoln's funeral in Springfield.

This is the Parlor Suite that John Alston purchased from Mrs. Lincoln.

Thanks, Brian. Can we now assume that the dresser, if it were indeed once owned by the Lincoln family, was not a part of the furniture sold to Alston?

[RJNorton]

(06-24-2016 04:06 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  I skimmed the Turner's book and the letters I spotted she signed "Mrs. A. Lincoln" were "business" or official letters, like to dealers concerning expensive purchases (WH china), recommendations for offices/positions, or the letter to the wounded soldier's mother etc. where a certain emphasis of status might have been beneficial as given the impression of her acting on behalf of her husband, too. Not sure - were women in her days already allowed to sign contracts (which a bill to some extent is)? She was also proud of being Mrs. A. Lincoln and in "formal"/"official " affairs/with strangers she might have wanted to demonstrate "status". AFAIK this was common practice here, too. In Austria even until the second half of the last (!) century a woman married to a professor was to be called "Mrs. Professor " although she didn't hold the title.

Eva, possibly the chart here will help?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_o...an_voting)

[Tadsecrete]

(06-24-2016 04:21 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(06-23-2016 07:36 PM)Tadsecrete Wrote:  Factoid: John L. Alston was one of the 100 people to represent Chicago at President Lincoln's funeral in Springfield.

This is the Parlor Suite that John Alston purchased from Mrs. Lincoln.

Thanks, Brian. Can we now assume that the dresser, if it were indeed once owned by the Lincoln family, was not a part of the furniture sold to Alston?

Most definitely. Thank you guys for the help with Mr. Alston.

[Eva Elisabeth]

(06-24-2016 04:23 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(06-24-2016 04:06 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  I skimmed the Turner's book and the letters I spotted she signed "Mrs. A. Lincoln" were "business" or official letters, like to dealers concerning expensive purchases (WH china), recommendations for offices/positions, or the letter to the wounded soldier's mother etc. where a certain emphasis of status might have been beneficial as given the impression of her acting on behalf of her husband, too. Not sure - were women in her days already allowed to sign contracts (which a bill to some extent is)? She was also proud of being Mrs. A. Lincoln and in "formal"/"official " affairs/with strangers she might have wanted to demonstrate "status". AFAIK this was common practice here, too. In Austria even until the second half of the last (!) century a woman married to a professor was to be called "Mrs. Professor " although she didn't hold the title.

Eva, possibly the chart here will help?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_o...an_voting)

Thanks, Roger, very interesting read at all!

[Tadsecrete]

A bit confused. According to the receipt, this parlor suite belonged to Abraham. If so, how did Mary "re-acquire" the suite after their move back from Washington?

[L Verge]

Am I missing something? Where on that receipt does it say that it belonged to Abraham?

[Tadsecrete]

At the very bottom of the receipt in the description.

[L Verge]

That reads "Mrs. A. Lincoln," which is what we were just discussing in several previous posts yesterday and today. See #45 and #46 specifically. How many times did she sign that way instead of as "Mary Lincoln?"

[Tadsecrete]

Is there a record of what furniture she left the White House with?

[RJNorton]

Did she take furniture with her? I think she packed up many trunks with clothing, etc. but I don't recall reading she took furniture with her. However, my memory may be faulty.

One book I have said she took her husband's shaving stand, but that's it.

[Eva Elisabeth]

I've always thought a trunk bigger than a suitcase - didn't she store footstools in trunks, too? Also there were newspaper claims about her taking White House interior with her, I remember china being mentioned.