September 5-7, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2023
This single-piece brass button bearing a 6-pointed star came from a leather tunic worn by John Wilkes Booth in theatrical productions that was one of the few, and perhaps only, item to escape Edwin Booth’s incineration of his brother’s theatrical trunk and contents in 1873 when Garrie Davidson, a young “basket boy” or property man, helped Booth destroy the trunk, apparently with 2 other trunks of Booth’s personal clothing. Formerly in the Lattimer collection, that leather jerkin with its some of its very specific buttons in place was sold by a Texas auctioneer in 2012 and may still be seen online. This one button was retained by the Lattimer family and has been consigned by them to us. A note by McKee Rankin, a well-known actor and theatrical promoter, accompanying the tunic in 2012 read, “This leather ‘Hawbuck’ or jacket was worn in several characters by John Wilkes Booth and came into my possession after his death and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. McKee Rankin.” Rankin is known as Edwin Booth’s source for at least the theatrical trunk. Beasley’s recent biography of Rankin cites an unpublished interview with Rankin, and says that before Booth returned to the US from Canada he placed at least the costume trunk aboard ship to be run through the blockade into the Confederacy, but it ended up impounded by Canadian authorities and was eventually acquired by Rankin’s brother in Canada as perhaps useful for Rankin’s own theatrical career. See Beasely, McKee Rankin, esp. p. 448. The tunic was clearly retained by Rankin by omission or intention: Edwin Booth consciously decided to consign relics of his brother to oblivion. Booth material of any sort is very hard to find. This has a great provenance and comes from one of the most renowned Lincoln collections. CONDITION: Excellent. When originally sold the Rankin note was accompanied by a Charles Hamilton letter of authenticity. Also included are pieces of Lattimer research with photos of the vest and button.
Item Dimensions: 3" x 2"
Paperwork
Copy of McKee Rankin and the Heyday of the American Theater and Lattimer research