Item 1 of 1
The Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana
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Item Title
Lincoln inkwell; a gift from Charles D. Proston.
Author/Creator
Creator: Tiffany
Created/Published
1865
New York City, New York
Notes
A gift from Mary Lincoln Isham to the Library of Congress in 1937.
Made of sterling silver from Poston's mine. Impressed or otherwise affixed on the inkwell: Abraham Lincoln. Charles D. Posten, Arizona 1865. Ditat Deus. E Pluribus Unum.
The inkwell is sculptural with three figures atop an architectural base with ball in claw feet. The central figure (Columbia, dressed in toga with sword, wreath and shield) is attached to a handbell which is removable from the base. The side figures depict a seated Indian (right) and a seated frontiersman (left). At the four corners are lamp-like architectural ornaments. Each is numbered below the base and under each ornament (visible when dismantled). They may have been intended to hold pens. The front of the base is engraved with "Abraham Lincoln" and the back "From Charles D. Posten Arizona 1865." In the front around the circular center ring is a relief: "E Pluribus Unum: surrounded by an incised line. On the ring below this is engraved "ditat deus". The inkwell is composed of many parts which are removable from the base. The appendages are held by screws. Behind the front and back engraved name plates are compartments. The front one has two holes accessible from the top and would seem to be for dipping into ink. Each hole has a small saucer dish which is easily removable. The drawer in the back has a lid (removable), and may have been used for extra pen nibs or possibly sand. Each drawer is held in place by a small lever.
Charles Debrill Poston (April 20, 1825- June 24, 1902), explorer and author, delegate from Arizona Territory to Congress, was born in Hardon County, Kentucky. N Washington he directed his attention to gaining a territorial organization for Arizona, and when the Territory of Arizona was created, he returned to the Southwest late in 1863 as superintendent of Indian affairs. Accompanied by J. Ross Browne [q.v.] he traveled through the Apache country, visiting the different tribes and at the same time gaining the support that elected him first delegate to Congress from Arizona. He served from Dec. 5, 1864, to Mar. 3, 1865, and advocated the building of irrigation works on the ground that they would aid the reservation tribes to becoming self-supporting (The Speech of Charles D. Poston .. On Indian Affairs in the House of Representatives .. Mar. 2, 1865). He obtained a congressional appropriation for the promotion of irrigation. By his defeat for reelection in 1864, his political career was closed.
Subjects
United States--Arizona
Lincoln's possessions
Proston, Charles D.
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
realia
Physical Objects
Object Type
Medium
24.5 high x 32 long x 12.5 wide (cm)
Call Number
Thatcher Grill, Rare Book Division
Part of
The Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana
Repository
Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Digital ID
lprbscsm scsm1300
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.rbc/lprbscsm.scsm1300