Murder & Memory

John Brown’s gold stud owned by Abraham Lincoln.  [before 1859]. Gold, diamonds.

• Complete Image

In a letter addressed to William Whiting Nolen on November 2, 1922, Charles F. Heartman, antiquarian bookseller and publisher, claimed that this gold stud with the letter “B” set with chip diamonds belonged to the abolitionist John Brown (1800-1859).  According to Heartman, the stud was given to Abraham Lincoln, who subsequently gave it to Horace Chase (1810-1886?).

Lincoln Collection    The William Whiting Nolen Collection of Lincolniana.