Lot 29
Lincoln, Abraham-- 1864 Twice-Signed Autograph Endorsement Allowing a Maryland Youth Who Fought For the Confederacy to Take the Oath of Loyalty (1809-65) 16th President of the United States (1861-65). Autograph endorsement signed twice, once as "A. Lincoln" and in a postscript as "A.L." The endorsement reads: "Let the boy take the oath of Dec. 8 and be discharged. A. Lincoln / Jan. 30, 1864 / P.S. The name of this boy is James C. O'Grady. A.L." Written on the verso of a letter written by William S. Reese, 2 pages, 9½ x 7¾", Baltimore, Jan. 11, 1864. The letter is addressed to Senator J.H. Hicks, former Governor of Maryland, regarding a young man of 16 who "At the time of our troubles here, in April 1861…was induced by some older persons to go off with a gang that left here for the South." The father had tried to have the party arrested, to no avail. "During the last year and about five months ago he was with others taken a prisoner at Culpeper Court House, and has ever since remained in prison at the old Capitol. The boy…is deeply penitent of his youthful indiscretion, and willing to take the oath of allegiance, return to his home, and become a loyal citizen…." The letter is attractively matted so that the endorsement and both pages of the letter are shown and framed to an overall size of 23 x 23". Twice-signed endorsements by Lincoln are not common. Estimate Value $4,000 - UP
Scriptorium, c. 1981.
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| Realized $6,600 |
