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  • RARE NINETEENTH CENTURY PORTRAIT OF PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN

    GARDNER, ALEXANDER. [ABRAHAM LINCOLN].

    Abraham Lincoln Portrait.

    : c. 1860.

    Rare original painting of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. After a photograph by Civil War photographer Alexander Gardner. Scottish photographer Alexander Gardner immigrated to the United States in 1856 where he became best known for his photographs of the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln, and the execution of the conspirators to Lincoln’s assassination. In near fine condition. In a period frame. The entire piece measures 20.75 by 16.75 inches. Rare and desirable.

    Price: $3,500.00     Item Number: 95830

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  • “A house divided against itself cannot stand": Rare Relief Bust Portrait of President Abraham Lincoln

    LINCOLN, ABRAHAM.

    Abraham Lincoln Relief Bust.

    : .

    Rare cast metal relief portrait of President Abraham Lincoln in profile. Housed in a custom circular frame with gilt decorative floral reliefs. The entire piece measures 16 inches by 16 inches. A handsome example.

    Price: $1,800.00     Item Number: 95124

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  • "Not one man recommended by me has yet been appointed to any thing, little or big, except a few who had no opposition": Rare autograph letter signed by Abraham Lincoln

    LINCOLN, ABRAHAM.

    Abraham Lincoln Autograph Letter Signed.

    Springfield, IL: 1849.

    Rare autograph letter signed by and entirely in the hand of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. One page, the letter reads in full, “Springfield May 7, 1849 Hon G. W. Rives Dear Sir, You overrate my capacity to serve you. Not one man recommended by me has yet been appointed to any thing, little or big, except a few who had no opposition. Besides this, at the very inauguration I commenced trying to get a Min[n]esota appointment for Dr. Henry, and have not yet succeeded; and I would not now, lessen his chance, by recommending any living man for any thing in that Territory. It is my recollection that you sent me an application to be P.M. at Paris. Am I mistaken? Very truly yours A. Lincoln.” Over a decade prior to his election as the 16th President of the United States in 1861, Lincoln served a single term in the House of Representatives between 1847 and 1849. A self-professed ‘old line Whig’, he was assigned to the Committee on Post Office and Post Roads and the Committee on Expenditures in the War Department. It was in this position that he first presented a bill to abolish slavery (in the District of Columbia with compensation for the owners), but it was dropped when it eluded Whig support. Lincoln had pledged in 1846 to serve only one term in the House. Realizing Henry Clay was unlikely to win the presidency, he supported General Zachary Taylor for the Whig nomination in the 1848 presidential election. Taylor won and Lincoln hoped in vain to be appointed Commissioner of the General Land Office. The administration offered to appoint him secretary or governor of the Oregon Territory as consolation. This distant territory was a Democratic stronghold, and acceptance of the post would have disrupted his legal and political career in Illinois, so he declined and resumed his law practice. In the present letter to fellow Whig George Washington Rives, Lincoln refers to his lack of influence in the dispensation of offices in the Taylor administration, he had, in fact, been out of office for two months and had just returned to Springfield, Illinois, to resume his law practice. In good condition. A unique and desirable lengthy letter from Lincoln, offering insight into his frustration with his early political career.

    Price: $35,000.00     Item Number: 130655

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  • Bust of Abraham Lincoln by famed artist George Bissell

    [ABRAHAM LINCOLN] GEORGE BISSELL,.

    Bust of Abraham Lincoln.

    : .

    Patinated bronze cast of Abraham Lincoln by George Bissell, one of only three commissioned by Ralph Newman for THE USS AL. Boldly signed by the artist in the back Geo. E. Bissell Sc. George Bissell was an important American sculptor working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He produced two full length statues of Lincoln: one in Edinburgh and one in Clermont, Iowa. According to the letter from Lincoln College Curator Paul Beaver, the present item is one of three copies made from the school’s original Bissell bronze bust of Lincoln by the Van Dyke Galleries of Chicago in the summer of 1989. One copy was presented to the USS Abraham Lincoln (commissioned in 1989), one copy was sold to Mel Smith, and the third to Barry and Louise Taper. In fine condition. The piece measures 25.5 inches in height. An exceptional piece.

     

    Price: $12,500.00     Item Number: 131044

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  • First Special Illustrator's edition of Ida Tarbell's The Life of Abraham Lincoln; one of only 75 numbered copies printed

    TARBELL, IDA. [ABRAHAM LINCOLN].

    The Life of Abraham Lincoln. Drawn from Original Sources and Containing Many Speeches, Letters and Telegrams Hitherto Unpublished.

    New York: The Doubleday & McClure Co. 1900.

    First Special Illustrator’s edition of the work that earned Tarbell a national reputation as a major writer and the leading authority on Abraham Lincoln. Quarto, two volumes, half cloth over paper-covered boards, illustrated, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Lincoln to each volume. One of only 75 numbered copies printed, this is number 51. In near fine condition. Rebacked. Housed in a custom slipcase. Rare.

    Price: $1,250.00     Item Number: 131290

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  • First edition of Emanuel Hertz's Abraham Lincoln: The Tribute of the Synagogue.

    HERTZ, EMANUEL. [ABRAHAM LINCOLN].

    Abraham Lincoln: The Tribute of the Synagogue.

    New York: Bloch Publishing Company 1927.

    First edition of Hertz’s compilation of tributes delivered upon the occasion of the death of President Lincoln. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece portrait of Lincoln, illustrated. In very good condition.

    Price: $975.00     Item Number: 131608

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  • Three exceptionally rare Abraham Lincoln Pieces; An autograph Pardon of December 8, 1863 Signed by him; pristine original carte-de-visite; and exceedingly rare contemporary printing of the Proclamation of Amnesty

    LINCOLN, ABRAHAM.

    Abraham Lincoln Amnesty Proclamation and Signed Pardon of December 8, 1863.

    Washington, D.C.: War Department, Adjutant General's Office 1864-1869.

    Rare autograph Oath of December 8 endorsement signed and entirely in the hand of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln with an exceedingly rare contemporary printing of Lincoln’s Amnesty Proclamation which includes the wording of the oath itself and a rare carte-de-visite of Lincoln [Providence, RI: Salisbury, Bro. & Co., n.d.]. One page, the endorsement is signed and inscribed by Lincoln, “Let these men take the oath of Dec. 8, 1863 & be discharged – A. Lincoln Dec. 30, 1863.” One page, disbound, the contemporary printing of the Amnesty Proclamation consists of 6 pages printed by order of the Secretary of War: E.D. Townsend [Washington, D.C.: War Department, Adjutant General’s Office, February 18, 1864]. Lincoln issued the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction in his annual message to Congress on December 8, 1863. In the message, Lincoln declared that he would offer a pardon to any man who would swear, without coercion, his allegiance to the Union. This provided, then, a general pardon to soldiers in the Rebellion, and to those, too, who deserted the Union cause. All Southerners except for high-ranking Confederate army officers and government officials could be granted a full pardon by taking the oath and Lincoln guaranteed Southerners that he would protect their private property, though not their slaves. The oath read, in part, “I do solemnly swear, in presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of the States thereunder; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all acts of congress passed during the existing rebellion with reference to slaves, so long and so far as not repealed, modified, or held void by Congress, or by decision of the Supreme Court; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all proclamations of the President made during the existing rebellion having reference to slaves, so long and so far as not modified or declared void by decision of the Supreme Court. So help me God.” Double matted and framed. The entire piece measures 17 inches by 19 inches. The autograph pardon is in very good condition. The carte-de-visite is in fine condition. The contemporary printing of the Amnesty Pardon is in fine condition and is exceedingly rare, with only one other copy appearing at auction over the course of the past century. An exceptional grouping of Lincolnalia.

    Price: $75,000.00     Item Number: 132045

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  • Rare Civil War Era Naval Commission Signed by Abraham Lincoln as President

    LINCOLN, ABRAHAM; GIDEON WELLES.

    Abraham Lincoln Signed Naval Commission.

    : April 21, 1864.

    American naval commission signed by Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States and Gideon Welles as Secretary of the Navy. Folio, partially engraved on vellum the document is dated April 21, 1864 and promotes Charles W. Tracy to the rank of Lieutenant. In near fine condition. Matted and framed with a portrait of Lincoln and engraved plate. The Commission measures 19 inches by 16 inches. The entire piece measures 34 inches by 29.5 inches.

    Price: $17,000.00     Item Number: 132067

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  • Bust of Abraham Lincoln by famed artist George Bissell; One of only three examples

    [ABRAHAM LINCOLN] GEORGE BISSELL,.

    Bust of Abraham Lincoln.

    : .

    Patinated bronze portrait bust of Abraham Lincoln, marked “GEO. E. BISSELL Sc GORHAM CO. FOUNDERS copyrighted,” and stamped “G 47.” This is one of a series of popular desktop busts of Lincoln produced by the Gorham foundry in the early part of the 20th century. In fine condition. The piece measures 18 inches in height. An exceptional piece of American history.

    Price: $15,000.00     Item Number: 133797

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  • “THE MOST IMPORTANT SERIES OF AMERICAN POLITICAL DEBATES”: Exceedingly rare first edition, first issue of The Lincoln-Douglas Debates; inscribed by Abraham Lincoln to long-time political supporter and friend Martin S. Morris and accompanied by the table from the Morris household that Lincoln signed the book on

    LINCOLN, ABRAHAM .

    Political Debates Between Hon. Abraham Lincoln and Hon. Stephen Douglas, In the Celebrated Campaign of 1858, in Illinois.

    Columbus: Follett, Foster and Company 1860.

    First edition, first issue of the most famous debates in American history which cemented Lincoln as a national presidential candidate; inscribed by Lincoln in pencil to close friend Martin S. Morris and accompanied by the table from the Morris household that Lincoln signed the book on. Octavo, original cloth stamped in blind. First issue, with no advertisements, no rule above the publisher’s imprint on the copyright page, and with numeral 2 at the bottom of page 17. Association copy, inscribed by Abraham Lincoln in pencil on the front free endpaper, “M. S. Morris Esq A. Lincoln.” The recipient, Martin S. Morris, was was a long-time political supporter and friend of Abraham Lincoln from Menard County, Illinois. In March 1843, Lincoln wrote to Morris, “It is truly gratifying to me to learn that while the people of Sangamon have cast me off, my friends of Menard who have known me longest and best of any, still retain their confidence in me.” Morris was selected as one of the delegates from Menard County to attend the Whig convention in Pekin in May 1843, but was detained by an illness and Francis Regnier attended in his place. The convention selected John J. Hardin rather than Lincoln as the Whig candidate for Congress from that district. In June 1852, Morris’s close friend Whig Congressman (and later Illinois governor) Richard Yates wrote to him from Washington regarding the 1852 presidential election. The Democratic National Convention was then underway in Baltimore, and after 32 ballots by the convention, Yates believed the chances of receiving the nomination were against U.S. Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois unless “his almost never failing good luck may avail him.” Ultimately on the 49th ballot, the Convention nominated Franklin Pierce, who had received no votes until the 35th ballot. Laid in is Yates’ letter to Morris which reads in part, “Washington June 4, 1852 Dear Morris, I thank you kindly… The Democratic Convention is now in session in Baltimore. The 32nd ballot has been had, and no nomination. Douglass does not appear to have as much strength as anticipated, and if we were to judge from present indications the chances are against him. How far his almost never failing good luck may avail him remains to be seen… The contest between Fillmore & Scott, it is now believed, will be very close. Some of the knowing ones, (who have not much to do but make calculations) say that the vote of Illinois will decide the question. We do not know how the Illinois delegation stands but we suppose nearly equal for Scott and for Fillmore.. Fillmore and his friends will, (if necessary to defeat Gen’l Scott), cast their vote for Mr. Webster… My opinion, and it is only an opinion is that Gen’l Scott will receive the nomination. Of one thing I feel pretty sure that either Scott or Fillmore will be supported most cheerfully by the Whigs, and what is better the Whigs here and throughout the Union have an abiding confidence that they will again gloriously triumph in November. Such was not the case at the beginning of the session. There was more or less of despondency then, but the skies are bright ahead now and (be the result what it may), the Whigs will march up to the work with unfaltering purpose and in the confident hope of victory… Your friend Richard Yates.” The Whig National Convention met a few weeks later, also in Baltimore, and the contest remained close between Winfield Scott and incumbent president Millard Fillmore, with Daniel Webster running a distant third, until Scott finally received the nomination on the 53rd ballot. In his letter to Morris, Yates was confident of a Whig victory in November, but Pierce went on to defeat Scott with 51 percent of the vote to Scott’s 44 percent, and an overwhelming 254-to-42 victory in the Electoral College. In May 1858, Morris wrote to Lincoln that he and other Republicans in Menard County “are up and doing” and “though we are in a minority, we nevertheless intend to give them [the Democrats] the best fight we can.” Four months later, he again wrote to “Friend Lincoln”: “If there is any reliance to be placed on the papers which I read, you are certainly making a very successful electioneering tour through the state, and whether you are elected to the senate or not, you certainly have reason to congratulate yourself and feel proud of the manifestations of confidence every where shown you by the people I have said and believed ever since Douglass repealed the MO. Com. That you would be his successor the first chance the people had to vote in matter, that was a most rascally thing and I believe would and know it ought to politically damn him and all who had anything to do with it, at least in the north…. But my object is not to write a dissertation on politicks knowing well that I could say nothing But which you already know, But merely to inform you by way of adding to the encouragement which I believe you are every where receiving, the good news, that you may calculate with a very great degree of certainty on a vote from Menard & Cass. We are glad that you have made an appointment to speak here and will endeavor to get you a large crowd.” Contrary to Morris’s assurances, in the race for state representative from Cass and Menard, Democrat William Engle defeated Republican James W. Judy for a seat in the legislature, where he dutifully voted for Stephen A. Douglas for the U.S. Senate. In September 1859, Morris was a delegate from Menard County to the Republican Congressional Convention for the Sixth Congressional District in Springfield. At the Convention, Morris was elected to the District Central Committee, which consisted of one delegate from each county. Among the resolutions passed by the Convention were, “Resolved, That the Territories of the United States are the common property of all the free white citizens of the whole Union, but that the institution of Slavery has no right or heritage therein…but at the same time, we strenuously oppose every attempt to interfere with slavery in the States where it now exists.” and “Resolved, That Freedom is universal and Slavery sectional, and cannot exist where it is not authorized by virtue of special local legislation; and that the Government of the United States, in the exercise of its powers, whether executive, legislative or judicial, is bound to adhere, in substance and in form, to the generous and noble spirit of these important maxims.” 6 Less than a month later, John Brown did “interfere with slavery in the States where it now exists” by seizing the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia. In 1862, Morris wrote to President Lincoln on behalf of his friend Henry Clay Denison, who was serving as a commissary clerk in the 14th Illinois Infantry regiment. Denison wanted a position as assistant quartermaster or assistant commissary in the army. Morris stressed that Denison was “a descendant of a good Whig family of the good old Whig state of Vermont his native place being Woodstock…. He is also as good a Republican as lives, and if he didn’t do as much he tried as hard as any one else to bring about your nomination &election.” President Lincoln dutifully forwarded the letter to the War Department. With Yates’ June 1852 letter to Morris laid in and with the ownership inscription of Morris’ great granddaughter beneath Lincoln’s inscription, “Property of Pauline Madgett Welton Lincoln’s signature (above).” Provenance: kept in the Morris family for over six generations (Martin S. Morris (1816-1884), husband of Elizabeth Waggoner Morris (1820-1901); Their daughter, Jane Eliza Morris Nance (1857-1927), wife of Benjamin Franklin Nance (1853-1914); Their daughter, Pauline E. Nance Madgett (1879-1971), wife of William P. Madgett (1875-1951); Their daughter, Pauline Helen Madgett Welton (1908-1978), wife of Claude R. Welton (1908-1978); Their son, William R. Welton (1939-2014); Welton family. Ownership inscription of Pauline Helen Madgett Welton. In very good condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Exceptionally rare signed by Lincoln with no other signed copies traced at auction. Accompanied by the original pedestal table from the Morris household that, according to generations of family lore, Lincoln sat at with Morris, signed the book, and ate apples as well as an oil portrait of Martin S. Morris which hung by the table. With a letter of provenance signed by a descendant of Pauline Helen Madgett Welton attesting to the provenance of the book, table and a portrait. According to Rae Katherine Eighmey, Abraham Lincoln in the Kitchen: A Culinary View (2014), fellow lawyer Charles S. Zane recalled Lincoln at a circuit town inn: “There was a ‘large basket of apples in the sitting room and we were invited to help ourselves. Mr. Lincoln was a great eater of apples. He said to me once that a man should eat and drink only that which is conducive to his own health. “Apples,” he said, “agree with me.”‘” (p. 131, citing Zane’s article in the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society in 1921). According to Eighmey, Herndon wrote of Lincoln: “He loved best the vegetable world generally…and especially did he love apples.”

    Price: $550,000.00     Item Number: 138634

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