How to Sell Your John Wilkes Booth Memorabilia

To auction, sell or consign your John Wilkes Booth memorabilia, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (NateDSanders.com).

Who Was John Wilkes Booth?

John Wilkes Booth was once a celebrated stage actor who starred in several Shakespearean productions. His extremist political views drove him to organize the assassination of President Lincoln along with a few Confederate sympathizers. Booth’s lucrative acting salary helped fund the conspiracy he masterminded and his fame helped cover the insurgent plans to destroy American democracy. John Wilkes Booth memorabilia and signed items are very scarce but still hold appeal to certain historical collectors.

Some Memorabilia We Sold Related to John Wilkes Booth:

Reward Poster for the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln — Sold for $166,375

One of the scarcest and most important documents in the history of the United States: the very first printing of the reward poster for the capture of John Wilkes Booth and two other conspirators in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Printed by the War Department, Washington, DC on 20 April 1865, five days after President Lincoln passed and six days before Booth was killed.

This broadside reward poster is the very first printing and also the rarest of the three iterations printed by the War Department, with some estimates of fewer than five existing today. It is much scarcer than the second printing, which has three woodcut frames at top for photographs of the conspirators. That second printing poster has recently sold several times in excess of $200,000. This first printing poster is so scarce that no recent auction records exist.

In large, bold type, poster reads ”$100,000 REWARD / THE MURDERER / Of our late beloved President Abraham Lincoln, / IS STILL AT LARGE”. Reward money for each man is listed, and at the bottom, their descriptions: Booth is ”Five Feet 7 or 8 inches high…black hair, black eyes, and wears a heavy black moustache.”; in later printings, the public is warned that Booth has likely shaved off his moustache. John H. Surratt is described at length, and then David E. Herold (here misspelled as ”David C. Harold”) is described as ”a little, chunky man, quite a youth, and wears a very thin moustache.” Sold for $166,375.

Handwritten and Signed Verse on Envelope — Sold for $32,500

An incredible four-line verse in the hand of John Wilkes Booth autograph, “J. Wilkes Booth.” The verse is written on an envelope dated “Washington D. C., 5 March 1865,” measuring 3.25″ x 6.25″. The envelope also has inscriptions by three other hands. Booth’s document signed poetic verse reads: “Now in this hour that we part,/ I will ask to be forgotten never/ But, in thy pure and guileless heart,/ Consider me thy friend dear Eva.” The text appears on the verso of the envelope on the inside of the flap. Experts are aware of approximately 300 letters that Booth wrote. After he killed Lincoln, the people who received these letters burnt them for fear they would be linked to Booth. It is estimated that only 17 Booth letters remain in private hands. Sold for $32,500.

Abraham Lincoln & John Wilkes Booth Notes Signed, Along with a Wallpaper Swatch from the President’s Box at Ford’s Theatre — Displayed with an Illustration of the Assassination that Changed History

Dramatic signed presentation of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, the event that shaped history in the aftermath of the Civil War. Below an illustration of the assassination just moments before it happened, the autographs of Lincoln and Booth are displayed next to a swatch of the actual wallpaper that lined the President’s box in Ford’s Theatre, matching the illustration.

Abraham Lincoln was the first U.S. President to be assassinated, and his death reverberated decades after 14 April 1865. His Vice President, Andrew Johnson, assumed control of the country on 15 April and quickly rolled back proposed protections for newly freed black Americans. Johnson even opposed the 14th Amendment which gave citizenship to former slaves, preferring instead to leave suffrage laws up to the states. Of course it’s impossible to know how history would have changed had Lincoln survived, as it remains one of the great “what ifs” in American history.

Abraham Lincoln’s autograph note signed is displayed below his image, dated 3 November 1864 just five days before the Presidential election. Lincoln writes in full, “Allow the bearer transportation from Washington to Pittsburgh, Penn. / A. Lincoln / Nov. 3, 1864”, with recipient’s name “M.L. Cullen” written in another hand. Measures 3.25″ x 2″, with some nominal smudging to handwriting; overall in very good condition with bold handwriting. Lincoln’s note is accompanied by a PSA/DNA COA.

Booth’s signed note also appears below his image and reads, “J. Wilkes Booth”, comprising a receipt for money accepted by Booth. Booth’s signature is considered one of the scarcest of all signatures, and is accompanied by a University Archives COA. Note measures 7.5″ x 2.875″, in near fine condition. The swatch of burgundy wallpaper measuring .625″ x .5″ is encapsulated by CAG to a size of 3.375″ x 4.25″.

Photo illustration measures 20″ x 16″, archivally matted to a total size of 25.5″ x 28.5″. A compelling presentation, in near fine condition. Sold for $31,500.

Boston Corbett Autograph Document — Signed Sold for $28,500

Boston Corbett autograph document signed detailing how he captured and slayed John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln’s assassin. Datelined Topeka, 19 January 1887, “Statement of Boston Corbett” reads: “In camp at Vienna, Virginia, on the morning of April 15th 1865 the news reached us that President Lincoln had been shot the night before…Our regiment the 16th N.Y. Cavalry was immediately ordered out in pursuit of the Assassin…Our Regt. was soon cut up into detachments…Col. N.B. Switzer…Major Bosworth…[and] First Lieut. Edward P. Doherty…They had photographs of Booth, Herold and Surratt…Captain Henry Wilson, who conveyed us to Belle Plain, where we landed and at once began the search between the two rivers Potomac and Rappahannock. At Port Conway the Ferryman recognized two of the pictures and said, Those two men crossed my ferry yesterday. Willie Jett, a Confederate officer, he said, aided them on their way, giving Booth a lift on his horse after crossing the river. We followed the clue given, captured Jett, who was compelled to guide us to the place where he had left the men. Arriving at Garretts Farm, the Lieut. said to me Booth is in that house, ride through the command, and see that every man’s pistol is in readiness for use. I did so…On entering the premises we found the men were no longer in the house, but had taken refuge in the barn. A surrender was demanded and refused. Booth declaring that he would not be taken alive. After much parleying Herold concluded to surrender, and was at once put under guard. The tobacco barn was then fired by Conger, the detective and Booth could then be seen. A single pistol shot from a Colts revolver brought him down and the capture was effected. A doctor was sent for who pronounced the wound fatal. Inside of three hours he was dead. Mr. Conger chose me as an Escort, and we started for Belle Plain and we there took steamer for Washington and before evening closed the news had flashed over the wires that Booth was taken. April 26 1865 was the day when God avenged Abraham Lincoln’s death…During the interval of our different Scouts I attended Prayer Meeting one night…I prayed, O Lord, lay not innocent blood to our charger, but bring the guilty speedily to punishment. Afterward when the Assassin lay at my feet, a wounded man, and I saw the bullet had taken effect about an inch back of the ear. And I remembered that Mr. Lincoln was wounded about the same part of the head. I said What a God we serve. I little thought when I offered that prayer a week ago that it would be answered in this way.” Corbett’s statement was displayed at Lincoln’s tomb. A 21″ x 16.5″ single-page document. Water, cello tape stains, toning. Matted. Good. Sold for $28,500.

Signed & Handwritten Hotel Register from 1863 — Sold for $20,939

Single page measures 8″ x 6.5″. John Wilkes Booth writes his name and place of residence “J Wilkes Booth, Baltimore” neatly on a piece of hotel register leaf and pasted to a board above three other clipped entries from the same register including Col. Nelson A. Miles, Gen. Joseph Hooker, and “Abraham Lincoln,” in an aide’s hand, as well as the date “Wednesday 20th May 1863.”

These register clippings came from a register maintained at the National Hotel, located only a few blocks from the White House, and one of the top hotels of the city. President Lincoln frequently visited the hotel to confer with military leaders and gave a stirring anti-slavery speech from the hotel balcony. John Wilkes Booth also stayed at this hotel when in Washington, most infamously during the days leading to the assassination. Booth’s signature is considered to be one of the rarest of all American autographs. This incredible document is the only existing relic unequivocally placing John Wilkes Booth and Abraham Lincoln in the same hotel, only days apart, and is worthy of inclusion in the finest collections of Civil War Americana. Sold for $20,939.

Autograph Letter Signed to Co-Conspirator — Sold for $19,194

Single page, octavo, datelined “Tudor Hall, Aug 8th, 1854,” to Samuel William “Billy” O’Laughlen, brother of Michael O’Laughlen, Jr., conspirator in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. This is one of his few surviving handwritten letters in private hands, and is revealing in that, aside from some adolescent boasting, touches upon a significant incident from his youth with a fine association.

Booth pens in full: “My Dear Fellow / In these last two weeks, I have had more excitement than I have had for a good while. First, and foremost, I went to a champagne drinking, and you had better believe that the road (home) seemed longer that night than it ever did before. 2dly we had a client [tenant] on the place whom we could not agree with. We had several sprees with him. In one he called my sister a liar. I knocked him down, which made him bleed like a butcher. We got the sheriff to put him off the place. He then warranted me and in a couple of weeks I have to stand trial for assault and battery, as you call it. I paid another visit to the Rocks of Deer Creek the other day. It looks just the same and Sunday I went to that large camp meeting with the hope of seeing you there, but I was disappointed. I saw John Em- there or that fellow that works in your shop. The Indian’s were up here the other day with their great Bear, excuse my bad writing and excuse me also for not writing to you sooner. Give my respects to all who ask after me. I have nothing more to say. Yours For Ever, / John W. Booth / (write soon).” Sold for $19,194.

Carte-de-visite Photograph — Sold for $1,650

Carte-de-visite photograph of John Wilkes Booth measuring about 6.3 inches 2.1 inches, mounted on a card printed with “The New Orleans Photographic Co. | 57 Camp Street”. Sold for $1,650.

John Wilkes Booth Handwriting — Sold for $756

John Wilkes Booth handwriting, with Lincoln’s assassin writing ”For M A”, referring to his sister Mary Ann Booth. Slip measures 2.375” x .5”, encapsulated by PSA/DNA to a size of 4.375” x 3.125”. Near fine condition. Sold for $756.

This wraps up our John Wilkes Booth memorabilia blog. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. Learn how to sell your Abraham Lincoln signed memorabilia.

FAQs

How do I consign or sell my John Wilkes Booth memorabilia?
It’s never been easier to sell your John Wilkes Booth memorabilia at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Email a description and photos of your item to [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible with a free appraisal.

This sounds great and I’d like to move forward. What’s the consignment process like at Nate D. Sanders Auctions?
We’ll send you more information about our auction house along with an agreement for your review. Your item will appear in our next auction. Unlike many auction houses, we hold monthly auctions and pay you within an industry-leading 45 days post auction.

What factors determine the value of John Wilkes Booth memorabilia?
The value of your memorabilia can vary based on condition, item type and subject matter/ historical content.