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Lot #100
Abraham Lincoln

Occupied with a run for Congress, the country lawyer pens 100 words and twice signs a letter regarding a legal case from his past

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Description

Occupied with a run for Congress, the country lawyer pens 100 words and twice signs a letter regarding a legal case from his past

ADS entirely in Lincoln’s hand, signed “A. Lincoln” at the conclusion and “Abraham Lincoln” within the body, one page, 7.5 x 9.5, February 6, 1846. Legal document in regards to the case of case of Alexander Sargeant vs. Sherman Kellogg, admitting he might have forgotten to attend to a case he doesn’t recall having passed on to him by another attorney. In full: “Abraham Lincoln being first duly sworn states an oath that he has a general recollection of B. F. Fridley speaking to affiant [Lincoln] at the term of the Supreme Court commencing December 1844, in relation to making an arrangement by which affiant should attend to cases in said court, in which said Fridley, was or might be interested; but affiant does not recollect that the case of Sargeant et al vs. Kellogg, was, by said Fridley, left in charge of affiant. Said Fridley now informs affiant, that he did leave said case in affiant’s charge; and affiant would not say that such is not the fact. Affiant further states that at the term of said court, commencing December 1845, he gave no attention whatever to said case; having no impression that he had ever been spoken to concerning it.” Light toning along folds, light creasing to left edge, several professional repairs to reverse of mailing folds, and show-through from docketing on reverse, otherwise fine condition.

Lincoln had a lot going on during the two-year period identified in this document. In December 1844, he ended his law partnership with Stephen Logan and established a new firm with William Herndon. The following summer, he embarked on a year-long campaign for Congress, winning a nomination in May 1846 and the election in August. This dispute, concerning debt claims and validity of claims of unsurveyed public lands, was eventually heard in 1848 in the Circuit Court in Springfield, Illinois. A nearly pre-political Lincoln document signed as the future president was setting course on events that would change his life.

Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title:
  • Dates: #357 - Ended May 12, 2010





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