The 30 Minute Rule begins July 15 at 7:00 PM EDT. An Initial Bid Must Be Placed By July 15 at 6:00 PM EDT To Participate After 6:00 PM EDT
Canadian lawyer and politician (1821-1893) who served as the third prime minister of Canada from 1891 to 1892. He was also the first native-born Canadian Prime Minister, and the first to serve as Prime Minister while sitting in the Senate rather than the House of Commons. LS signed “J. J. C. Abbott,” one page, 7.75 x 9.75, Montreal, October 14, 1878. Letter written during the Canadian federal election campaign of 1878, in part: “I should much like to have a copy of the proclamation issued by Mr Barron, either as put in the newspapers, or as it exists on his posters. I want to get from it an exact description of the polling places, as made up by himself.” Abbott closes by asking that the document be sent to him “at your earliest convenience.” In fine condition, with trimming to the bottom edge.
John Abbott served as the third Prime Minister of Canada from 1891 to 1892, succeeding Sir John A. Macdonald following Macdonald’s death in office, and remains the first Canadian-born prime minister. Before entering the premiership, Abbott established himself as one of Montreal’s leading lawyers and political figures. His most celebrated legal case came during the American Civil War, when he defended several Confederate agents involved in the St. Albans Raid, arguing that they should be treated as military belligerents rather than common criminals and therefore not extradited to the United States. As a young man, Abbott also signed the controversial Montreal Annexation Manifesto of 1849, advocating closer ties with the United States, a position he later regarded as a youthful error.
Written during the federal election of 1878, the letter reflects Abbott’s close attention to electoral administration and polling arrangements at a decisive moment in Canadian political history. The election returned Sir John A. Macdonald and the Conservative Party to power on the National Policy platform, reshaping the country’s economic and political direction during the early post-Confederation era.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
(inquire for price)
*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.
Third-party authentication service applies only to signatures and handwriting, and does not cover the addition of sketches, artwork, musical quotations, etc.
