Forwarding his autograph as President-elect

Lot 160
27.06.2024 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
$ 7 560
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1236391
Lot 160 | Forwarding his autograph as President-elect
Estimate value
$ 3 000 – 4 000
LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865). Letter signed as President-elect ("A. Lincoln") to Charles E. Bennett, Springfield, IL, 6 December 1860. The text is in the hand of John Nicolay, Lincoln's secretary and biographer.

One page, bifolium, 130 x 198mm. (unevenly toned from prior framing, adhered sticker at upper-left, light fingersoiling).

Exactly one month after his election to the presidency on November 6th, Lincoln forwards his autograph to a collector. Only set to take office in March 1861, President-elect Lincoln signed this letter from Springfield, where he remained until his travel to Washington. During these interim months, infuriated secessionists were racing to leave the Union before he officially took office. Exactly two weeks after this letter was sent, South Carolina became the first to secede from the Union on December 20th, 1860. Signed items from Lincoln as Presidential-elect are particularly scarce.

Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
13.06.2024 – 27.06.2024
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

More from Creator

Appointing a New Hampshire attorney
Appointing a New Hampshire attorney
$100
An endorsement of General Halleck's aide-de-camp
An endorsement of General Halleck's aide-de-camp
$100
Endorsing a chaplain at Armory Square Hospital
Endorsing a chaplain at Armory Square Hospital
$100
Representing the Illinois Secretary of State
Representing the Illinois Secretary of State
$6 000
Apologizing for
Apologizing for "apparent rudeness" to his Secretary of the Interior
$6 000
Submitting an endorsement to the War Department
Submitting an endorsement to the War Department
$1 400
Pardoning a deserter from Fort Delaware
Pardoning a deserter from Fort Delaware
$2 400
On the endorsement of a future Major General
On the endorsement of a future Major General
$100

Related terms