Lignum vitas wood caster with round, bowl-like top, pierced for shaking out pounce. Base is ring-turned tapers smaller to broad top, flat bottom. Small, shallow dotted pattern in two bands near bottom. Lip at top has thin groove. Top screws onto base that would be filled with pounce, which is a fine powder made from powdered cuttlefish bone. Pounce was used both to dry ink and to sprinkle on a rough writing surface to make it smooth enough for writing.
Esther 'Hetty' Parker, James Buchanan's housekeeper, chose this among several other household items that Buchanan noted she was to be allowed to choose after his death. Miss Hetty gave this to the daughter of her neighbor. Miss Steckman donated this to the Wheatland collection in 1938.
Grand National Democratic Banner. Heads of James Buchanan and John Brekenridge at center. Draped red and gold curtain at top with stars and eagle and 'One Country_One Constitution_One Destiny'. Eagle stands upon 'Union'. At bottom, figure of Americas wit
Signature stamp. Thin metal layer mounted on thick piece of wood, attached by small nails. Thin metal has signature of 'James Buchanan' carved out of it in reverse. Wood stained along metal strip from ink
$500 Scholarship certificate from Franklin and Marshall College issued to Andrew Bausman, signed by James Buchanan as President of Board of Trustees, J. M. Long as Treasurer, and Thomas C. Porter as Secretary. Dated June 20, 1864.
"No. 6" at top with "Scholarship" above a photo of college buildings flanked on left with the face of Franklin and Marshall on the right. "Franklin and Marshall College/ Second Series." is printed below.
Thin white mat does not appear to be acid-free. There are some ripples on the upper right of the scholarship paper and a small tear on upper edge, right of center.
Wine bottle. Brown glass, shallow pontil, seamed shoulder and neck. Cork with red wax to seal mouth. Wine inside almost to shoulder level. Found by volunteers sometime during the early years of the James Buchanan Foundation. Bottle was found in the east end of the basement level in the Wheatland mansion.
Marble Fragment from Original Tomb of James Buchanan
Description
Fragment from James Buchanan's tomb in Woodward Hill Cemetery, Lancaster, PA. Rectangular base with relief carving of three oak leaves on one short branch with an acorn on top. White marble. On back: paper with handwritten ink: 'a piece of waste marble from (the?) Tomb of Hon. James Buchanan.
Provenance
Found by donor at gravesite. From original tombstone. Gift of Jim McMullin per Pat Clarke 4/5/2023
Lithograph of James Buchanan. Wearing white tie, dark suit. Bust, 3/4 front to his right. Below portrait 'James Buchanan Secretary of State' 'From Life on Stone' Print is currently framed
Black and white engraving of James Buchanan. Publisher used Buttre's ca 1857 engraving for this 1874 print. Buchanan is wearing formal dress attire: black pants, jacket and vest. White shirt and white tie. Holding a book in right hand and resting book on
Provenance
Parks, Richard [seller]- Slaymaker, Samuel [donor] Unknown beyond seller.
purchased from on-line auction house: E-bay $8.00 Purchased from: Richard Parks 871 Woodside Lane E #3 Sacramento, CA 95825 Funds for purchase provided by: Sam Slaymaker 109 Benley Lane Lancaster, PA 17603
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania