LOT #47021 |
Sold on Dec 15, 2023 for: Sign-in
or Join (free & quick)
Abraham Lincoln Appointment Signed. ...
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Sold on Dec 15, 2023 for:
$52,500.00
Bid Source: Mail/Fax bidder
Get one of these:
Explore Available Items
Description
"The last official act of Mr. Lincoln was to affix his signature to this instrument at 3.30 P.M."
Abraham Lincoln Appointment Signed. One partially printed
page, 15.75" x 10", Washington; April 13, 1865. Appointment of
William C.S. Smith as Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fifth
Collection District of California. Signed, "Abraham Lincoln"
and countersigned by Secretary of Treasury, Hugh McCulloch.Appointee William C.S. Smith notes the fateful date of the appointment in the bottom left corner, writing, "The last official act of Mr. Lincoln was to affix his signature to this instrument at 3.30 P.M. In company into Hon. R.C. Schenk and Senator [John] Conness. I called on the President at 1 P.M. and was appointed by his personal order to this office. Immediately after signing this Mr. Lincoln rode out with General Grant, the 14th was a Holiday all Government offices were closed. That evening Mr. Lincoln was assassinated. I was in Washington. W.C.S. Smith."
Although we cannot confirm that this was his last official act, Smith's note is compelling. The Lincoln Log corroborates that President Lincoln was, in fact, with Grant that day. Records report that Lincoln spoke with General Grant and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton on the conclusion of the Civil War following Lee's surrender at Appomattox only four days earlier. From there, Lincoln rode "horseback to [a] soldier's home," just as described by Smith.
Included with this appointment is a letter of provenance dated March 19, 1934, marking the sale of Smith's appointment by his son, C.G. Smith, to rare book dealer, Newbegin's Book Shop. A handwritten note on the letter from bookseller, J.J. Newbegin confirms the sale, stating that "C.G. Smith father was appointed by A. Lincoln see Documents. J.J. Newbegin 4/12/34." The appointment was sold soon thereafter and has remained with the same collector's family until now.
On the evening of April 14, 1865, President Lincoln, accompanied by his wife, Clara Harris, and Major Henry R. Rathbone, attended the performance of Our American Cousin at the Ford Theatre. During intermission, John Wilkes Booth arrived at the theatre and gained entrance to Lincoln's box. He barricaded the door and, familiar with the play, waited for a moment in the second act in which the shot would be covered up by the audience's laughter. Although scholars debate the specific time of the shooting, they agree that Booth fired his gun at approximately 10:13 P.M. Although medics were initially delayed by Booth's barricade, they quickly moved the president to a nearby house for treatment. All attending physicians agreed that the president would not recover from the attack. Lincoln died less than twelve hours later at 7:22 A.M. on April 15, 1865, the first president to be assassinated in U.S. history.
Condition: Creased along folds and toned. Three small open tears to the top margin and one to the left margin. The upper left corner has been slightly torn off. Tape reinforcements along all folds on the verso made at an earlier time.
References: thelincolnlog.org.
Auction Info
2023 December 15 Historical Platinum Session Signature® Auction #6280 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2023
15th
Friday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 3
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,147
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% on the first $300,000 (minimum $49), plus 20% of any amount between $300,000 and $3,000,000, plus 15% of any amount over $3,000,000 per lot.
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms