HISTORICAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN PIECE OF HIS BLOOD STAINED BANDAGE, SECURED BY A BOARDER WHO WAS LIVING IN THE PETERSEN HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE THEATER. THIS FRAMED PIECE WAS HANDED DOWN TO A GENTLEMAN YEARS AGO, AND HE PASSED IT DOWN TO A DEAR FRIEND, WHO CONSIGNED IT. IT IS IN A PERIOD GILT FRAME. THE LETTER IS ON ORDNANCE OFFICE WAR DEPT. WASHINGTON STATIONARY. THE LETTER IS DATED MAY 3RD, 1865. IT IS TO T J DEUSCHER, WHO LIVED IN NEW YORK (SEE ENVELOPE). THE LETTER READS - DEAR DEUSCHER, " I SEND YOU ENCLOSED A PIECE OF THE CLOTH STAINED WITH THE BLOOD OF OUR LATE PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN. IT IS A PIECE OF THE BANDAGE THAT WAS PLACED AROUND HIS HEAD. I PROCURED IT FROM THE ROOM IN WHICH HE DIED. I RESIDE IN THE SAME HOUSE. I'M SORRY I COULDN'T SEND YOU A LARGER PIECE. YOUR OLD FRIEND H.J. SAFFORD. THE FRAME MEASURES 15" X 25". WOOD BACKING OF THE PERIOD. THIS IS FRESH TO THE MARKET, AND HAS BEEN IN PRIVATE HANDS SINCE IT WAS ACQUIRED. ALSO A DRIED TWIG IN FRAME, NOT SURE OF THE SIGNIFICANCE. THE PETERSEN HOUSE WHERE HE WAS TAKEN WAS A BOARDING HOUSE, SO, MR. SAFFORD COULD HAVE LIVED THERE, AND POSSIBLY WORKED FOR THE GOVERNMENT, AS IT IS WRITTEN ON STATIONARY FROM THE ORDNANCE OFFICE. I JUST OPENED THE BACK TO PHOTOGRAPH, THE TWIG IS ON A BUSINESS CARD FOR THEODORE J DEUSCHER JR. , AS PICTURED.