The Fathers and Saviors of Our Country: A Presidential Landmark Sale Surpasses 1.5 Million at Freeman’s

Lot 86 | [LINCOLN-JOHNSON CAMPAIGN]. An exceedingly rare 34-star eagle parade flag, ca 1863-1864 Sold for $281,600

Freeman’s Fathers and Saviours of Our Country: A Presidential Sale, a multi-category auction anchored by several important private collections, was held on March 26 and totaled an impressive $1,582,080. Featuring an exceptional group of artifacts that trace the arc of American leadership—from the founding generation through the crucible of the Civil War and beyond—the sale achieved a 97% sell-through rate and reached 175% of its pre-sale estimate by value. Notably, 17% of participants were new buyers to Freeman’s, underscoring sustained demand and growing engagement in this category.

At its core, the sale brought together objects that illuminate the character, conviction, and consequence of the figures who shaped the Republic. From the Founding Fathers, who forged a new government out of revolution, to the Presidents who preserved, tested, and redefined it in moments of profound national trial, these leaders emerge not merely as officeholders, but as architects of American identity—guiding the nation through independence, expansion, division, and reunion.

"Achieving $1.5 million—more than double the low estimate—and establishing a record for an American campaign flag, this sale reflects a market that is both competitive and deeply engaged with the material. As we near the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, collectors are responding with renewed urgency to secure objects that embody the origins and evolution of American identity.” — Christopher Brink, Senior Specialist, Books & Manuscripts

Lot 48 | Charles Alfred Barry (American, 1830-1892) Abraham Lincoln: The Greek God, 1892, oil on canvas, framed Sold for $102,400

Leading up to Fathers & Saviours of Our Country: A Presidential Sale, Freeman’s hosted panel discussions at its New York and Chicago galleries. Guests had the opportunity to hear from scholars, including Dr. Philip Mead, Jill Gage, and Daniel Weinberg, with the conversation led by Darren Winston and Christopher Brink, examining the collection’s historical significance and enduring appeal.

Auction Top Lots

· Lot 86 | [LINCOLN-JOHNSON CAMPAIGN]. An exceedingly rare 34-star eagle parade flag, ca 1863-1864. 25 3/4 x 16 1/2 in. flag, paint-printed cotton, wreath surrounding large eagle and colored shield, flanked by a star in each corner, printed with the words "Lincoln and Johnson." | Sold for $281,600

· Lot 48 | Charles Alfred Barry (American, 1830-1892) Abraham Lincoln: The Greek God, 1892 oil on canvas, framed. Sold for $102,400 · Lot 31 | [LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865)]. A rare period tintype of Abraham Lincoln: The "Beardstown Portrait," 7 May 1858 [but ca 1860]. | Sold for $76,800

· Lot 5 | [WASHINGTON, George (1732-1799)]. SAINT-MEMIN, Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de (1770-1852). Gold alloy and enamel mourning ring purportedly bequeathed in Washington's last will and testament. Circa 1800. | Sold for $70,400 

· Lot 110 | [LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865)]. Second Inaugural Address of the Late President Lincoln. New York: James Miller, [1865]. | Sold for $70,400

· Lot 43 | [LINCOLN-HAMLIN CAMPAIGN]. An important New Hampshire Wide Awakes banner, ca March 1860. | Sold for $54,400

As we continue to celebrate and honor America’s 250th anniversary, Freeman’s Books & Manuscripts department presents exceptional printed and manuscript Americana this summer.

LEFT TO RIGHT Thomas Jefferson’s “Birth of the Nation Letter”, January 16, 1784 “Star-Spangled” Logbook kept by British Midshipman Charles R. Malden, aboard the HMS Trave, May 1814 to May 1816

On June 30 in Philadelphia, Freeman’s will present How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X, a single-owner auction drawn from the renowned collection of Eric C. Caren. Representing one of the most extensive bodies of American historical documentation in private hands, the collection spans the era preceding national independence through westward expansion, the Civil War and Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Movement, and into the 21st century, offering a sweeping narrative of the American experience.

Highlights Include:

· Thomas Jefferson’s "Birth of the Nation" letter, carried to Paris with the Treaty of Peace, by a Jewish patriot, January 16, 1784 | $100,000/200,000; Written shortly before Thomas Jefferson’s appointment as Minister Plenipotentiary to France, this exceptional letter is addressed to Francois Jean de Chastellux, the principal liaison between the French and Continental Armies during the American Revolution. Jefferson reflects on the Treaty of Paris—ratified by Congress just two days earlier and formally ending the war, he discusses the forthcoming publication of his Notes on the State of Virginia, and he offers a measured assessment of the young nation’s mood, firmly dismissing European rumors of anarchy.

· Logbook kept by British Midshipman Charles R. Malden, aboard the HMS Trave, May 1814 to May 1816 | $60,000/80,000; Extensive ship’s log kept by future Royal Navy officer Charles Malden while serving aboard the HMS Trave. Among the detailed entries is a first-person account of the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812, and the fateful shelling of Fort McHenry, the inspiration for Francis Scott Key's Star-Spangled Banner. Entries for the night of September 13-14, 1814 include: “Bombs and Frigates…commenced a tremendous heavy fire on the Batteries near Baltimore.”