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c. 1790 Exceedingly Early & Ultra-Rare Benjamin Franklin Silk Memorial Ribbon

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,100.00 USD Estimated At:1,800.00 - 2,400.00 USD
c. 1790 Exceedingly Early & Ultra-Rare Benjamin Franklin Silk Memorial Ribbon
Federal Period
Exceedingly Early & Ultra-Rare

Benjamin Franklin Silk Memorial Ribbon
c. 1790, Benjamin Franklin Printed Portrait Silk Mourning Ribbon, 3” x 2.25”, Choice Very Fine.
This Post-Revolutionary War memorial silk ribbon was formerly sold in our July 1994 Auction, Lot 869, where it realized a hammer price of $1,650. It is simply an incredible Benjamin Franklin related, early American rarity, dating during the period after Franklin’s death on April 17, 1790. It is accompanied by a short note written on an envelope which reads: “John Phillips, Curator of Print Department, Yale”. This example was printed in black upon a light cream-colored silk and only slightly faded. The black printed image of Franklin is quite clear and it has a lightly printed large 1/4” tall legend below that reads, “FRANKLIN” just below his bust. An exceptionally rare item, which still remains the only one we’ve ever seen.


Benjamin Franklin died peacefully in his sleep on the night of April 17, 1790. He was 84 years old. His funeral was held in Philadelphia and attracted the largest crowd of mourners ever known. An estimated 20,000 people crowded around the Christ Church Burial Ground where he was buried beside his wife Deborah Read Rogers Franklin who had died sixteen years before him. The tombstone on their grave said, "Benjamin and Deborah Franklin: 1790."