ADS, signed “Peters & Lincoln,” one page, 7.75 x 5, filed on May 6, 1850. Legal brief for a case between Francis Coburn and John See. In full: “And the said defendant comes and defends the wrong and injury when, where…and says plaintiff actio now, because he says he did not undertake and promise in manner and form as the said plaintiff in his said declaration has alleged; and of this the said defendant puts himself upon the county.” Document is also notated at the bottom in another hand, “And the plaintiff doth the like. Davis for pltff.” A couple small separations along central horizontal fold, a bit of light toning, and rough vertical edges, otherwise fine condition.
Following his single term as congressman in Illinois, which ended in 1849, Lincoln was offered the job of governor of the Oregon Territory—then made up of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and part of Wyoming. But because his family, friends, and political connections were concentrated in the Midwest, he declined the position and returned to his legal practice. At the time that he penned this brief, he was serving as a defense attorney on the Illinois Eighth Circuit Court, traveling from one county seat to another and accepting cases directly from defendants or, as in this document, reinforcing local attorneys’ cases. In this contractual dispute, he was likely summoned by local attorney ‘Peters’ to help present the case in front of David Davis, the circuit’s judge for several years. An interesting and highly desirable piece from the future president’s famous days as a prairie lawyer, written entirely in his distinctive hand. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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