ABOVE LEFT: This is the blood stained Handkerchief that was wrapped around Lincoln’s head, after his death, to keep his jaw closed until rigor mortis set-in. ABOVE RIGHT: This is one of the coins that was placed on Lincoln’s eyelids after his death. This was a common Practice in the 19th century.

Lincoln's last moments, as observed by Maunsell B. Field -

A copy of Maunsell B. Field, Memories of Many Men and of Some Women (New York: 1874), original gilt lettered, black-decorated brick cloth, first edition. Field, a lawyer, diplomat and judge, was an assistant secretary of the treasury under Lincoln. In writing here about the closing scene of Abraham Lincoln’s life, Field says (pp. 325-26): “The President’s breathing became faint and low. At intervals it altogether ceased I was standing directly opposite his face, with my watch in my hand. At last, at just twenty-two minutes pas seven, he ceased to breathe... Dr. Gurley dropped upon his knees by the bedside and uttered a fervent prayer.... When most of the persons assembled began to withdraw I with a few others, remained. We closed the eyes completely, and placed silver coins upon them, and with a pocket-handkerchief we tied up the jaw, which had already begun to fall. Mr. Stanton threw open the two windows of the room:” Mounted inside the front cover of the b00k is a silver 1861 quarter, one of the coins placed upon Lincoln’s eyelids t0 keep them closed, and mounted inside the rear cover is a large portion of the linen handkerchief used t0 close and tie his jaws. Field gave these two relics (and presumably the book itself) to Judge Julius Rockwell of Massachusetts, who had served in the 30th Congress with Lincoln, 1847-49. On the front free end-paper is a handwritten note: “The relics presented to my father by Mr. Field in 1868 are contained herein”, signed by Francis Williams Rockwell (lawyer, banker and congressman). The latter’s bookplate is affixed inside the front cover, and he has written some notes on the front blank.