Auction of Historic Ford’s Theatre Tickets from the Night of Lincoln’s Assassination Fetches $262,500

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Two front-row balcony tickets for the April 14, 1865 performance at Ford’s Theatre—remarkable for being the night President Abraham Lincoln was fatally shot by John Wilkes Booth—have been auctioned off for a sum of $262,500, as reported by a Boston-based auction firm.

The tickets feature a date stamp that reads “Ford’s Theatre, APR 14, 1865, This Night Only,” and are further embellished with the imprint on the left side stating “Ford’s Theatre, Friday, Dress Circle!” The tickets also have penciled-in details, specifying the section (“D”) and seat numbers “41” and “42,” as confirmed by RR Auction.

The auction house officials noted that the handwritten seat information and the stamped date on these tickets are consistent with those found on other verified tickets, including a half-ticket stub in possession of Harvard University’s Houghton Library.

The aforementioned Harvard stub, representing only the left portion of the original ticket, is the lone other surviving April 14th Ford’s Theatre ticket. It features similarly penciled-in seat details and an identical stamp placement to those on the tickets sold in the recent auction.

On that fateful night, at slightly past 10:00 p.m. during the performance of “Our American Cousin,” Booth entered the presidential box and assassinated President Lincoln. After the act, Booth leapt onto the stage and exited through a rear door. Lincoln, who was critically wounded, was immediately examined by a physician present in the audience. He was then transported to the Petersen House across the street, where he passed away early the following morning. Booth eluded capture for a period of 12 days but was ultimately located and fatally shot at a farm in Virginia.

Also included in the Saturday auction was a first edition of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, autographed by Lincoln himself, which sold for nearly $594,000.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ford’s Theatre tickets auction

More about Ford’s Theatre tickets auction

• Ford’s Theatre Official Website
• RR Auction Official Website
• Harvard University’s Houghton Library Collection
• Lincoln-Douglas Debates Historical Overview
• Petersen House History and Significance
• The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln: A Comprehensive Account