This beautiful cane is inscribed "Col, Geo T.M. Davis/from/A FRIEND/JUNE 1866" on top of the grip. George Turnbull Moore Davis (1810-1888) was born the son of the U.S. Consul-General to the Regency of Tripoli, and spent much of his early life in New York for education and work. In July of 1832, Davis became a lawyer and moved with his family to Alton, Illinois where he opened a law office and began to take some interest in local politics. According to correspondence held in the Libraries of Congress, Davis was, at the very least, an acquaintance of Abraham Lincoln, and likely met him during the time they were both in Illinois. Davis wrote a letter to Lincoln in February of 1861, inviting the president-elect to stay at his house on his way to Washington D.C. for his inauguration. There is a line in that letter, made more interesting with hindsight, which reads, "I look forward with great pride to your inauguration as the President of these United States (including the seceding ones), and my prayer to God is, that by your honesty and integrity of purpose, you will so command the confidence and love of the people, as to find, comparatively, but little difficulty in bringing order out of the chaos." As of writing it remains unclear who the "friend" was that presented this cane to Davis, but it certainly appears that President Lincoln considered him one, however, given the date of presentation on the cane (after Lincoln's assassination), it is unlikely to have been a gift from the president himself. The gilt knob grip has extensive floral motifs along with the inscription and is fitted to an ebonized shaft tipped with brass. It measures 35 5/8 inches overall.

Very good, the grip retaining much of the bright polished gilt finish with a few scattered minor dings. The shaft is also very good with some scattered minor handling marks and flakes. An interesting presentation cane given to George Davis, who was in correspondence with Abraham Lincoln!