Offered is the rarest ribbon on card, an 1864 Lincoln patriotic ribbon which until today has never been offered on the original card, and has always been believed to be a mourning ribbon! The ribbon, a "stevengraph" (a small picture woven in colored silk thread), measues 2 1/8" x 5 1/8" and is mounted at top (bottom glue has come loose) to a 8" x 3 1/2" glossy white card. The ribbon portrays the bearded president from the chest, up and gazing to his left, surrounded by a wreath of laurel leaves and with his name "Lincoln" appearing below. The card is imprinted with gilt filigree at the edges and reads: "WOVEN WITH BLACK & WHITE SILK ON JACQUARD LOOM, For the Great Central Fair, By WM. H. HORSTMANN & SONS, PHILADELPHIA". Fine condition.

The Great Central Fair was a large fair held in Philadelphia in June, 1864 to benefit the Sanitary Commission. It occupied all of Logan Square, and the main building alone occupied 200,000 sq. ft. Lincoln attended with Mary and Tad - it was the only large Sanitary Fair he visited. Hortstmann, a military supplier, undoubtedly had a booth at the exposition. Until now, it was believed that this ribbon was a mourning ribbon, as no example has ever been seen set on the original card. Indeed, American Political Ribbons and Badges by Sullivan and Fischer lists the ribbon as such (ALM 9). Now the record must be re-written. A rare opportunity to obtain a truly unique item.

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