61045: [Mary Todd Lincon] Pair of Pendant Earrings Start Price USD 1,200.00 Current Price USD 16,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 25 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, November 20, 2008 End Time Thursday, November 20, 2008 Location Eisenhower Hotel & Resort See more about '61045: [Mary Todd Lincon] Pair of Pendant Earrings' Description click for larger image61045: [Mary Todd Lincon] Pair of Pendant Earrings [Mary Todd Lincoln] Pair of Pendant Earrings Owned by Mary Todd Lincoln. These "earbobs" appear to be made of gold-mounted black onyx. Each consists of a circular piece, about a half-inch in diameter, connected by a gold link to a teardrop-shaped pendant about 1-1/8" long and almost a half-inch wide near its base. The pieces bear, alternately, incised hand-painted figures of a man and woman dressed in what appears to be late medieval costume, with minute floral patterns above the pendant figures. The original hooks (Mrs. Lincoln had pierced ears) have been replaced with gold ear screws. Accompanied by a 7" x 9" sepia photo of the earrings, on the back of which is an unsigned, undated (ca. 1935) handwritten pencil note by the highly respected autograph dealer Forest H. Sweet of Battle Creek, Mich., reading in part: "...Mrs. Lincoln's earrings [showing] old hooks above...which Tiffany replaced with screws so Mom could wear them. They came from C.F. Gunther in a trade...Dr. [W.A.] Evans...sent this picture, original of an illustration in his book on Mrs. Lincoln, for which I loaned him the earrings." Also present is a charming 1970 letter from Sweet's daughter and business successor, Julia Sweet Newman, stating that the earrings were acquired from Gunther by her grandfather Forest G. Sweet. Gunther was "elderly at the time... [and] said he knew they were Mrs. Lincoln's...but he couldn't remember why he knew it. He told Dad that he was sure that Dad would live to prove it... What a pity some men don't record information when they are young and can remember!" Also present: carbon copy of a partly printed packing slip from Edsel B. Ford, Rouge Plant, Ford Motor Company, 1931, for shipment of the earrings to Sweet (he had "offered them to Henry Ford at $2500" according to the letter of Mrs. Newman); a large copy print, by Bachrach, of a Mathew Brady photograph showing Mary Lincoln wearing these very earrings; and two letters from Bachrach studios to Forest H. Sweet, 1931, about the photo. Exquisite personal relics, in very fine condition. Provenance: Gunther; Forest G. Sweet, to Julia Sweet Newman by descent; sold by the family through Charles Hamilton galleries, New York, to Dr. Lattimer.Shipping: Miscellaneous Collectibles, Smal (view shipping information)Important notice: Heritage usually auctions material at the rate of 100-110 lots per hour. On some occasions eBay Live bid software or the Internet may not be able to keep up with the pace of the auction. We recommend placing a realistic absentee bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Occasionally the auctioneer may eliminate or reject an eBay Live bid, and the auctioneer may also reopen a lot after the close of the eBay live bidding (usually because we missed an audience bid), and may reject your bid even if it shows you as the winning bidder. By bidding via eBay Live, you agree that Heritage may award the lot to another bidder at its sole discretion under the circumstances described above or any other reasonable circumstances. Since eBay bids are not shown to us until we open the lot on the floor, we treat those bids just like floor bids. In most cases the floor responds before the eBay bid is presented to us, due to Internet lag time, so for consistency we have made it a policy that floor bids are always considered first over tie eBay live bids. Also please note that all Heritage lots purchased through eBay Live carry a 22.50% Buyer's Premium with a $9 minimum Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions before you bid. This lot is being auctioned in conjunction with a live floor auction by Heritage Auctions. All final auction and invoice information will be supplied by Heritage Auctions, and all other information should be considered preliminary. Lot:61045Winning Notification and Billing: After the FINAL session in this auction is complete, Heritage will send e-mail and snail mail invoices. This process normally takes several days. All final auction and invoice information will be supplied by Heritage Auctions, and all other information should be considered preliminary. Second Chance Offers: Heritage does not make Second Chance Offers. Once our auction ends, if you receive a Second Chance Offer to buy this item DO NOT accept the offer. Please forward any Second Chance offer emails received on one of our auctions to eBay's Safe Harbor Department. This auction will be conducted on a live auction floor and over the Internet through eBay Live. If you choose to place an absentee bid, please take a moment to learn how eBay Live absentee bidding works Auction House Info Heritage Auctions 3500 Maple Avenue 17th Floor Dallas, Texas 75219-3941, United States Tel: 214-528-3500 Fax: 214-443-8425 EMail: EbayLive@HeritageAuctions.com CLICK TO Ask a Question ABOUT THE LOT OR AUCTION FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT CONTACT EBAY LIVE AUCTIONS Terms & Conditions Please view our complete Terms & Conditions at the following web address: http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/images/TermsAndConditions.pdf Auction House Heritage Auctions3500 MapleDallas, TX United States 75219214.409.1444Terms & Conditionshttp://ha.com/common/auction/terms_and_conditions.phpShippingBuyer Pays Shipping CostBuyer's PremiumUSD 0 - USD 999  22.5 %USD 1000 +   22.5 %PaymentContact For Payment DetailsTaxesLocal Taxes ApplyContractYour bid is a contract.Place a bid only if you're serious about buying the item. If you are the successful and winning bidder, you have entered into a legally binding contract to purchase the property bid on from the seller. You should contact the seller to resolve any questions before bidding.RegistrationBidders are required to:a) Sign up for this auction& b) Complete bidding approval formApproval is at the discretion of the Auction House.HelpHelp with biddingImages Online Auction services by LiveAuctioneers Place a Bid!