LEE, ROBERT E. Autograph letter signed to cousin Sally Lee gifting a lock of his hair, present in a near contemporary gold pendant. ... . Lexington, VA: 12 September 1870. 1 page autograph letter signed "RE Lee" to cousin Sally Lee sending "a lock of my hair as you requested, its diminutive size is caused by the inroads of time, not the assaults of my countrywomen as you infer", and sending regards to family members. 9 5/8 x 7 5/8 (24 x 19.5 cm). Usual folds, tipped at corners to mount, the locket and letter in a shadowbox frame. The lock of hair now housed in a near contemporary pendant with a second lock of hair dating from the Mexican War era (see note below). The pendant of 14 Kt. gold decorated on its front with a cut glass jewel at top and surrounded by floral motifs in variegated gold in four colors (pink, yellow, white, green), the central glass panel has a decorative blue enamel "L", and the back of the pendant is hand-engraved at top "Lee". It is further engraved with the Lee family motto taken from the headstone of Robert E. Lee's father Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee: "With faith untouched, spotless and clear his fame, So pure that envy could not wrong the same." The pendant hangs from a 9 Kt. gold 21 inch slide-chain, the slide with a decorative "L" and two cut glass jewels. Together with an 1891 letter from Cassius Francis Lee, Jr. describing the pendant and attesting to the provenance of its contents. In the letter, headed "Medallion given to Lucy on her return from School - June 10, 1891," Cassius Francis Lee, Jr. attests that the "hair that forms the circle - black hair - was cut from Genl. Lee's head by my aunt Sally about the time of his return from the Mexican War ... which she gave to me over 20 years ago" and continues "the grey hair in the center is from a lock sent by the General himself to my sister Sally ... just one month to the day before his death, and which she gave to me. The letter of Genl. Lee which goes with this memorandum attests this fact." This letter tipped to matting. A remarkable Robert E. Lee artifact, a Lee family pendant containing strands of the General's hair from both the Mexican and Civil War eras. Provenance: Robert E. Lee to Sally Lee Sally Lee to her brother Cassius Francis Lee, Jr. (pairing the earlier lock of hair with the latter in the pendant) to his daughter Lucy [Lucy Lyons Lee] By descent to the current consignor Cassius Francis Lee, Jr. (1844-92), according to Edmund Jennings Lee's 1895 Lee of Virginia 1642-1892, is remembered as taking "the greatest interest in all that pertained to the history of his family, and for years had been collecting wills, deeds, letters and all manner of geneological data. Had his life been spared, he would have edited a most admirable work." C Property of Robert E. Lee V
LEE, ROBERT E. Autograph letter signed to cousin Sally Lee gifting a lock of his hair, present in a near contemporary gold pendant. ... . Lexington, VA: 12 September 1870. 1 page autograph letter signed "RE Lee" to cousin Sally Lee sending "a lock of my hair as you requested, its diminutive size is caused by the inroads of time, not the assaults of my countrywomen as you infer", and sending regards to family members. 9 5/8 x 7 5/8 (24 x 19.5 cm). Usual folds, tipped at corners to mount, the locket and letter in a shadowbox frame. The lock of hair now housed in a near contemporary pendant with a second lock of hair dating from the Mexican War era (see note below). The pendant of 14 Kt. gold decorated on its front with a cut glass jewel at top and surrounded by floral motifs in variegated gold in four colors (pink, yellow, white, green), the central glass panel has a decorative blue enamel "L", and the back of the pendant is hand-engraved at top "Lee". It is further engraved with the Lee family motto taken from the headstone of Robert E. Lee's father Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee: "With faith untouched, spotless and clear his fame, So pure that envy could not wrong the same." The pendant hangs from a 9 Kt. gold 21 inch slide-chain, the slide with a decorative "L" and two cut glass jewels. Together with an 1891 letter from Cassius Francis Lee, Jr. describing the pendant and attesting to the provenance of its contents. In the letter, headed "Medallion given to Lucy on her return from School - June 10, 1891," Cassius Francis Lee, Jr. attests that the "hair that forms the circle - black hair - was cut from Genl. Lee's head by my aunt Sally about the time of his return from the Mexican War ... which she gave to me over 20 years ago" and continues "the grey hair in the center is from a lock sent by the General himself to my sister Sally ... just one month to the day before his death, and which she gave to me. The letter of Genl. Lee which goes with this memorandum attests this fact." This letter tipped to matting. A remarkable Robert E. Lee artifact, a Lee family pendant containing strands of the General's hair from both the Mexican and Civil War eras. Provenance: Robert E. Lee to Sally Lee Sally Lee to her brother Cassius Francis Lee, Jr. (pairing the earlier lock of hair with the latter in the pendant) to his daughter Lucy [Lucy Lyons Lee] By descent to the current consignor Cassius Francis Lee, Jr. (1844-92), according to Edmund Jennings Lee's 1895 Lee of Virginia 1642-1892, is remembered as taking "the greatest interest in all that pertained to the history of his family, and for years had been collecting wills, deeds, letters and all manner of geneological data. Had his life been spared, he would have edited a most admirable work." C Property of Robert E. Lee V
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
