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A LOCK OF WALT WHITMAN'S HAIR WITH TREMENDOUS PROVENANCE. A lock of Walt Whitman's hair, together with a contemporary autograph note in pencil from Thomas Donaldson describing the provenance of the lock, image 1
A LOCK OF WALT WHITMAN'S HAIR WITH TREMENDOUS PROVENANCE. A lock of Walt Whitman's hair, together with a contemporary autograph note in pencil from Thomas Donaldson describing the provenance of the lock, image 2
The Pauline and Ozzy Fletcher Collection of Whitmaniana
Lot 142

A LOCK OF WALT WHITMAN'S HAIR WITH TREMENDOUS PROVENANCE.
A lock of Walt Whitman's hair, together with a contemporary autograph note in pencil from Thomas Donaldson describing the provenance of the lock,

21 November 2023, 10:00 EST
New York

Sold for US$3,584 inc. premium

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A LOCK OF WALT WHITMAN'S HAIR WITH TREMENDOUS PROVENANCE.

A lock of Walt Whitman's hair, together with a contemporary autograph note in pencil from Thomas Donaldson describing the provenance of the lock, and a printed facsimile of a letter from Walt Whitman (originally used to enclose the lock of hair), approximately 70 mm, the note dated March 27, 1892.
Provenance: Walt Whitman; his nurse Warry Fritzinger and Mary Davis; given to Thomas Donaldson; collection of Pauline and Ozzy Fletcher; sold to our consignor.

VERY RARE—A LOCK OF WHITMAN'S HAIR, accompanied by a provenance note in Thomas Donaldson's hand:

"Mr Whitman died 6.43 Satdy 26 March 1892/

This facsimilie of letter and lock of Mr. Walt Whitman's hair cut today given [to] me tonight in his house in Camden by Warry Fritzinger his nurse and Mrs Mary Davis' son.

Thos Donaldson, Sunday 9 pm March 27, 1892
."

Warry Fritzinger, Whitman's last and favorite nurse, and Mary Davis, Warry's mother, were in charge of Whitman's death-bed. Thomas Donaldson wrote Whitman a note through Warry and Mary on the day he died. Mary wrote back to Donaldson at 3 pm with an update, noting, "I read your letter to him just now. He smiled and said: 'Oh, he's a dear good fellow.'" Whitman died at 6:43 pm, and at WW's request Donaldson was a pallbearer at the funeral. See Donaldson, Walt Whitman the Man, New York, 1896.

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