Auction Name: 2026 February 26 Historical Manuscripts & Texana Signature® Auction

Lot Number: 47152

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/6328*47152

[Abraham Lincoln]. 1865 Inauguration Ticket. 3 3/4 x 2 1/4 inches on cardstock. An extraordinarily rare ticket to Abraham Lincoln's inauguration ceremonies in Washington on March 4, 1865. Precious few examples of this scarce ticket are known to exist, most of those blank, with this example being one of only a handful to surface signed "Geo. T. Brown", the sergeant-at-arms. This specimen is engrossed to admit "one", with a pencil note on the same line reading, "to Senate Chamber." "W. P. Dole" is written at the bottom left in period ink, attributing ownership to William Palmer Dole, Lincoln's Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

A wonderful period card which one might imagine allowed a fortunate soul to hear Lincoln deliver his Second Inaugural Address, a speech of reconciliation setting the stage for the Reconstruction he did not live to orchestrate. The ticket was originally mounted on a page in a scrapbook kept by Lizzie Dole, wife of Lincoln's Commissioner of Indian Affairs. An image of the full page is available for reference and context. A printing of all the pages of the scrapbook will be included with the lot.

Condition: Lightly toned with light, scattered soiling and minor edgewear. Adhesive staining from previous mounting on the verso.

Provenance: Elizabeth Dole and by descent, to our consignor.

Include Thumbnail(s)