Cup measures 3 1/4" in diameter and saucer measures 5 3/4" in diameter. Decorated with a wide buff band within gold gilt borders with a gold gilt circle in the center of both the cup and saucer. Cup is missing its handle.

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We are offering more than 80 pieces from this original historic dinner service, often referred to as the "Buff China".

Circa 1865 and known as the "Buff" set, originally ordered from J.K. Kerr of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, whose establishment was known as "China House", by Mary Todd Lincoln as the second set for The White House ordered during the second term of Abraham Lincoln's Presidency.

At the end of 1864 Mary Todd Lincoln proceeded to order a new set of Presidential china, unlike the well-known magenta Solferino set used throughout the first term of Lincoln's presidency, from a different firm, that of James K. Kerr of 529 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, who establishment was known as "China House". On January 9th and 10th, 1865, it is documented that she sent telegrams to James K. Kerr requesting immediate delivery of the new dinner service (reference: Mary Todd Lincoln, Her Life and Letters by Justin G. Turner and Linda Levitt Turner, 1972). Despite these requests, it appears the set known as "One extra large French China Dining, Dessert and Coffee Service decorated on a white ground delicate Buff border with burnished Gold Lines", was not billed until January 30, 1865 and that the primary delivery of this same set by Harnden Express did not take place until February 13, 1865, as documented by the National Archives, Miscellaneous Treasury Account, vouchers 25 & 26, account number 157178. Two months later, President Lincoln was assassinated. Subsequently, a meeting between B.B. French, the Commissioner of Public Buildings and Grounds, and the new President Andrew Johnson occurred regarding the non-payment of the invoice for the china recently ordered by Mrs. Lincoln. President Johnson was asked to approve its payment, which he did on August 29, 1865. The second additional order for this service was paid for in February of 1866. It is surmised that the Johnson's did not like the "Buff" set because on January 17, 1866 an order was placed with E.V. Haughwout of Haughwout & Co., New York City, to replenish the Solferino china set.

On July 23, 1866 the 29th Congress passed an Act providing for the appointment of an official steward of the Executive Mansion. At that time, Interior Secretary Orville H. Browning, directed by Benjamin B. French to take the inventory of the White House, which was accomplished with the then steward William Slade on February 28, 1867. A second inventory, taken on December 14, 1869 during the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant, lists the Solferino set and also lists a buff set, obviously the one ordered by Mrs. Lincoln. President Chester A. Arthur, in the first autumn of his administration, directed an extensive redecoration of the Executive Mansion. During this event, assisted by the doorkeeper, Charles Loeffler, President Arthur inventoried and evaluated the property within the Mansion. Under the direction of the steward, William Crump, the pieces of china to be discarded were packed into 30 barrels. The remnants of three services were packed away in storage within the Mansion. It is believed these were from Presidents Lincoln, Grant and Hayes. Little else is known relating to the outcome of the other pieces of the buff Lincoln dinner service beyond those pieces that are documented to be in the collection of the Smithsonian Institute and of those documented pieces remaining in the White House collection.

During the late 19th and opening of the 20th century, two separate events took place concerning the disposal of surplus items from the Executive Mansion. The partial set being offered here was purchased at public auction in Philadelphia, PA between 1880-1890 by Sylvanus Hall. He then passed it on to his daughter, Georgia Hall Conley. She passed it on to her son, Frank G. G. Conley. He passed it on to his daughter, Fritzie Conley Carper.

PROVENANCE

Each purchase is accompanied by copies of the following documents:

1. A receipt from The White House signed by Clement E. Conger, the Curator for The White House Museum and dated August 25, 1980 acknowledging that a coffee cup and saucer together with "a small covered vegetable tureen" were donated by Mrs. Fritzie Conley Carper and Mrs. Carter Conley Hardesty.

2. A letter of acknowledgement written to Mrs. Carper on January 27, 1981 by Clement E. Conger, on behalf of the Committee for the Preservation of The White House, for the donation of a cup and saucer "believed to be from the state service ordered for The White House by Mrs. Abraham Lincoln.

3. A receipt dated September 22, 1980 was issued to Mrs. Carper from Claudia B. Kidwell, Chairman of the Department of Social and National History of The Smithsonian Institution, acknowledging the gift of a "9 ½" plate, cup and a saucer" belonging to the "buff services ordered and received Mrs. Abraham Lincoln for The White House in 1865".

4.A notarized letter dated January 14, 2010 from Fritzie Conley Carper directed to James D. Julia, Inc. detailing the provenance of the china from it's purchase by her great grandfather Sylvanus Wilson Hall at a public auction.