Lincoln Funeral

Cowan’s Winter American History auction held December 9, 2009 brought in over $650,000 on 400 lots.

Exceeding its pre-auction estimate of $8/10,000, an Album of Carte de Visite Photographs of Abraham Lincoln’s Funeral Procession sold for $27,025. The album, containing 97 CDVs, featured images from three of the nine cities in the funeral procession route. The album also contains a rare image of Lincoln’s bedroom in Springfield, IL.

A rare quarter plate daguerreotype of Seneca Chief Governor Blacksnake realized $22,325. An influential leader, he was involved in one of the great events in Seneca history, the formation of the Code of Handsome Lake. The code incorpotated elements of Christianity and traditional Iroquois culture.

A collection of Plains Indian Photographs by Julia Tuell brought $21,150. Tuell lived in Lame Deer, Montana, where she was a keen observer of Northern Cheyenne daily life. Images include photos of the Cheyenne Sun Dance and Animal Dance.
An Archive of the California Gold Rush sold for $11,750. The archive features 175 items, which includes documents and manuscripts that provide a glimpse into the lives of Americans during the late antebellum years.