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Sale 33
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Lot 273
(Lincoln, Abraham - ASSASSINATION). $100,000 Reward Broadside issued by the U.S. War Department, Washington, April 20, 1865, for the apprehension of John Wilkes Booth, John H. Surratt, and David C. Harold, 24"x12 3/8", laid to a 26"x14"sheet. Very fine. Signed in print by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. In part: "$100,000 REWARD! THE MURDERER of our late beloved President, Abraham Lincoln, IS STILL AT LARGE. $50,000 REWARD Will be paid…for his apprehension…$25,000 REWARD Will be paid for the apprehension of John H. Surrat, one of Booth's Accomplices. $25,000 REWARD Will be paid for the apprehension of David C. Harold, another of Booth's accomplices…All persons harboring or secreting the said persons…or aiding or assisting their concealment or escape, will be treated as accomplices in the murder of the President and the attempted assassination of the Secretary of State, and shall be subject to trial before a Military Commission and the punishment of DEATH. Let the stain of innocent blood be removed from the land by the arrest and the punishment of the murderers…." Descriptions of the three men follow, along with a Notice regarding additional reward money from the State and other authorities, "making an aggregate of about TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS."
At the time the poster was printed, Booth, Herold and Surratt had been identified as part of the conspiracy. Wilkes and Herold escaped into Maryland and then Virginia where, six days after the poster was first issued, they were found in a barn on Garrett's farm, near Port Royal, Virginia, and surrounded by a detachment of soldiers. Herold surrendered, but Booth refused, so the barn was set on fire and Booth was shot to death. Herold was tried, convicted and hanged (June 6, 1865) along with other conspirators. John Surratt escaped to Canada, then Europe, but was captured and brought back and tried in 1867 in a civil court (the jury was deadlocked and Surratt went free).
There were only two printings of this broadside; the present broadside is from the second printing, second issue. In the first printing, as well as the second printing, first issue, the description of Booth notes, "and wears a heavy, black moustache"; this issue adds, "which there is some reason to believe has been shaved off." Most of the extant copies of the second printing were not furnished with photographs at the time of their issue; cartes de visite were affixed at a later date. Most copies were publicly posted at the time of the manhunt or saved by souvenir hunters and were poorly preserved; consequently, most have numerous defects or are in only fair to good condition. Most of the extant copies are in institutions or private collections. This copy has some repaired edge tears and is lighter at the edges from a previous framing, but has no posting holes and is so fresh that it can only be presumed that Booth was captured before it could be posted. A rare opportunity to possess an example of probably the most famous reward poster in American history.
Estimated Value $40,000 - 60,000.
Purchased from the Abraham Lincoln Bookstore in Chicago, Illinois c. 1986.
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