Partly-printed DS as president, one page, 8 x 10, April 8, 1861. President Lincoln directs the Secretary of State to "affix the Seal of the United States to the envelope of a letter addressed to His Majesty the Emperor of Russia (Mr. Appleton's recall)." In fine condition, with lightly trimmed edges.
President Lincoln appointed Cassius Marcellus Clay to the post of US Minister to the Russian court at St. Petersburg on March 28, 1861; John Appleton, then serving in the position, would be recalled. However, the Civil War broke out before Clay could depart. As there were no Federal troops in Washington, DC, Clay organized and led a militia of 300 volunteers to protect the White House and US Naval Yard from a possible Confederate attack. Once the area was safely secured by Union troops, Clay and his family embarked for Russia to replace Appleton, who resigned for health reasons. In this diplomatic capacity, Clay is credited with gaining Russian support for the Union during the Civil War.
This document also presents a significant association, as both Lincoln and Alexander II were assassinated. Alexander II also enacted the Emancipation Reform of 1861—the year of this document—abolishing serfdom on private estates throughout the Russian Empire, another similarity to President Lincoln.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$250.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
We use cookies on this site to improve your experience. By using this site, you accept our use of cookies. To learn more, please see our Privacy Policy.
