PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS (CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA) - HAIR STRANDS - HFSID 250640
Sale Price $2,050.00
Reg. $2,400.00
Jefferson Davis' Hair
Seven authenticated strands of Jefferson Davis' hair mounted on an 81/2x11 page containing facsimile reproductions of an engraving of
Davis and the following handwritten statement under which the original lock of
hair had been affixed with a pin and framed with the letter: "Montreal.
Saturday, September 21, 1867. Mrs Howell gave me this
lock of hair to day in the presence of President Jefferson Davis - It was cut
from his head during his confinement in Fortress Monroe-Mrs Howell is the mother in law of President Davis. Mrs Jefferson Davis was also present at the time. Thos Placide." provenance: Accompanied by a photostatic copy
of a four-page letter by William C. Floyd who conducts Historical and
Genealogical Research out of Edgewater, Maryland. Mr. Floyd's letter dated
September 13, 1997 is addressed to Mr. Phillip B. Lamb of Phillip B. Lamb, Ltd,
New Orleans. In 1997 Mr. Lamb had the original framed presentation which he sent
to Mr. Floyd for examination. Mr. Floyd returned it with the above referenced
letter. At some point between September of 1997 until these strands came into
the possession of the Gallery of History in June of 1999, the original lock and
its framed presentation were sold. The strands of the lock were dispersed. these
hairs came from the world's largest collector of famous people's hair. his
collection is documented in the guiness 1999 book of records. The letter
of research in part: "I am returning by registered mail the framed
presentation with a lock of hair from Jefferson Davis and the attached letter
from the American actor, Thomas Placide. I have examined this material
carefully. While I did not open the frame to inspect the lock of hair, I did
view the strands carefully under high magnification and then compared them to
the hair displayed in various photographs of Jefferson Davis in the National
Archives. It appears obvious, that based upon physical comparison and other
evidence presented later in this report, that this indeed is the hair of Davis.
Upon your suggestion, I contacted the previous owner of this item and received
very satisfactory answers to the pertinent questions about the provenance of
this exceptional presentation. As you pointed out, this item has not been
altered or tampered with by the previous owner or the person from whom he
obtained it some years ago. Furthermore, I visually examined the paper to which
the hair is attached and found it consistent with the paper produced in the
United States in the immediate post-Civil War years. This paper has the correct
fiber content and bears the age marks consistent with writing material of the
late 1860's...Though I am not a specialist in external aspect, the pin appears
original, as does the thread used to bind the lock of hair. The facts presented
in the letter written by Placide are identical to those found in the important
reference works on Davis. I was unable to locate any handwriting examples of
Thomas Placide and it is unlikely that any have survived. However, my informed
opinion is that the ink on this letter is from the period, appropriately aged
and shows no signs of fabrication or alteration. It is simply honest,
unaffected penmanship entirely consistent with the historical facts. I summarize
my relevant historical research below. Jefferson Finis Davis was captured on
May 10, 1865...He was released from Fortress Monroe on May 13, 1867, and
proceeded to Richmond, where he was placed on bail pending trial for treason and
complicity in the Lincoln assassination...The summer heat and humidity of
Richmond harshly impacted Davis, already sickened and weak from his grueling
confinement in Fort Monroe. Davis decided to take his family to Montreal,
Canada, and shortly after his arrival, he received an invitation to visit the
home of James Murray Mason in the village of Niagara, near Toronto. Mason,
former Confederate ambassador to England, along with Davis' wife, Varina...Mason
and Charles Helm, former CSA agent in Havana, traveled to Montreal to fetch
Davis...Davis stayed in Toronto approximately two months, August until the end
of September, 1867. He then returned to Montreal and stayed there until the
beginning of 1868...The dates of Davis' travels in Canada exactly match the date
which Placide places on the letter to which is attached the lock of hair,
September 21, 1869...Thomas Placide...has been described as a boisterous
performer who never achieved major roles or more than passing fame. He was most
successful portraying servants and footmen, roles...Thomas Placide's theatrical
experience also included managing theaters in New Orleans from 1850 to 1854...It
may have been during this period that he became friends with Davis...In 1856,
Placide joined Wallack's theater in New York...Placide was known to have
appeared in Richmond and Washington, D.C., another point of possible contact
with Davis, who served as Secretary of War under Franklin Pierce from 1853 to
1857...It is not known whether Placide served in any covert role for the
Confederate government...Finally, it should be observed that samples of hair,
along with photographs, jewelry, books and other personal items, were among the
gifts exchanged among friends and relatives during the Civil War years as
symbols of love and admiration...In summary, my thorough examination of all
aspects of your presentation convince me that this lock of hair was a genuine
gift from Jefferson Davis and his mother-in-law, and that the historical context
of the letter penned by actor Thomas Placide is entirely original and accurate
in time frame and all relevant details. It is possible that the lock of hair
was cut by Davis to be sent to his wife or other relatives while in Fortress
Monroe, but that failing health or mail restrictions made it impossible for him
to send this special gift from his damp, dark cell in the federal fort on the
coast of Virginia near Norfolk. Thus, the postwar retreat to Toronto well may
have been the first special occasion that Jefferson Davis had openly to present
gifts and share thoughts and emotions with family members and close
friends...." Fine condition.
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