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Description

James Buchanan Signed Military Appointment from the First Year of His Presidency

James Buchanan Document Signed ("James Buchanan"). One partially printed page on vellum, 14 1/2 x 19 1/2 inches; Washington; February 6, 1858.

A military appointment commissioning "Henry B. Bristol, as an officer in the U.S. Army just a few years before the eruption of the Civil War. Signed "James Buchanan" as president, and countersigned by Secretary of War, John B. Floyd. The appointment displays a bold engraving of a large American eagle at the top center and a detailed vignette of a trophy of arms and flags at the bottom.

Condition: Overall good. Flattened horizontal and vertical fold lines. Wrinkling and toning throughout. Staining scattered at the center of the document with some trickling down to the bottom right corner. Separation to the main integral fold with a smaller separation beneath that has been repaired with archival tape on the verso. Ink notation to the upper left corner and red wax remnants from seal closer to the bottom margin.


Auction Info

Proxy Bidding Ends 
June
19th Friday 10:50 am CT
Auction Dates
June
19th Friday
Proxy Bidding Time Remaining 
17 Days 4h 39m 8s
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 0
Lot Tracking Activity: 4
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This lot is in: 1 - Signature® Floor Session (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 42001-42298) - 11:00 AM Central Time, Friday, June 19, 2026.
[Proxy bidding ends ten minutes prior to the session start time. Live Proxy bidding on Heritage Live now starts within 2 hours of when the auction opens for proxy bidding and continues through the live session.]

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Additional Location Info:
Heritage Auctions - Dallas
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261

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