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THE ONLY PRINT PORTRAIT THAT LINCOLN IS KNOWN TO HAVE AUTOGRAPHED ~ SIGNED EN ROUTE TO HIS INAUGURATION IN 1861 -- ONE OF ONLY THREE KNOWN COPIES

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

$135,000
  • Publisher: American Banknote Company
  • Location: New York
  • Date: 1861
  • Seller SKU: ABAA759

LINCOLN, ABRAHAM. (1809-1865). Sixteenth President of the United States (1861-1865). Superb and extremely rare engraved Portrait Signed, "A. Lincoln", on his way to his inauguration in 1861. One page, octavo. Lincoln is depicted in a full-faced bust pose, beardless. Image engraved by the American Banknote Company, New York.

According to surviving records of the American Bank Note Company, six proofs of this image were sent to Lincoln in Springfield shortly before he left for Washington to attend the Inauguration. On February 16, 1861, the inaugural train stopped in Buffalo, where Lincoln was claimed to have presented one copy to William M. Kasson, the man who designed the special railroad car in which the President-elect was traveling. A second copy [our copy] was presented to J.R. Drake. It bears the inscription by Drake on the verso as follows: "This portrait was presented to me in February 1861 during the journey to Washington, previous to his inauguration. The signature is genuine. J.R. Drake". [Our image is fully documented in: The Lincoln Image / Abraham Lincoln and the Popular Print / by Holzer, Boritt and Neely, Jr. / Scribners, NY. 1984 — page 31. — Please contact us for full details, and provenance.] A third copy was discovered in 1976. Thus, this is one of three known copies of which there can be only a total of six. We've had 6 (or more) signed Lincoln photographs over the years, and know of maybe a dozen more. This signed iconic image…is just a horse of a different color! A remarkable artifact of the event, and an extremely important image. In very fine condition. Housed in a custom, full leather clamshell case. A superlative item around which a collection, or an exhibition, could easily be envisioned! One of our "Best of the Best". ™

Offered by Gerard A.J. Stodolski, Inc.

Gerard A.J. Stodolski, Inc.
Specializing in Artist Letters, Historic Autographs & Manuscripts, Presidential Autographs, Science, Signed And Inscribed Books and Signed And Inscribed Photographs.
Our experience spans over six decades in the historic autograph, rare book and manuscript field. During those years we have been engaged in the full-time business of buying, selling and appraising original letters, manuscripts, documents, signed photographs, historical ephemera, posters and books. We have been members of the ABAA and ILAB for over 35 years. Among our many clients are: The White House, the Library of Congress, major libraries, colleges and Ivy League universities. Many of the finest private libraries and collections on the planet contain items that have passed through our hands. The total dollar amount of this material is incalculable. We have been profiled with a segment on the ABC Evening News, and have been quoted and/or interviewed by: The New York Times, NY Daily News, The Washington Post, and other major newspapers, both here and abroad.

We have also authenticated and appraised major collections of material including: Abraham Lincoln's 'House divided' speech for a Morgan Library patron; to Louisa May Alcott's family archive, and the Leon Trotsky archives, both at Harvard University; to a major collection of French Impressionist artist letters; to a world class collection of Charles Dickens, [now residing at the Dickens House Museum in London]; to co-appraising the archives of The New York Stock Exchange, among hundreds of others. Our experience is second to none.

We exhibit at many of the major book fairs and symposiums held nationally and internationally. Additionally, we participate in both auction and non-auction sales of material, representing client interests in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Hong Kong, Philadelphia, London, Paris, Shanghai, Berlin, Rome, Geneva and elsewhere.
Contact the Seller
Gerard A.J. Stodolski
FIVE CHICKADEE COURT
Bedford, NH 03110 USA, New Hampshire 03110
Phone/Text: (603) 488-1775
Our return policy allows items to be returned for any reason within seven (7) days of receipt, in the same condition that the item was sent out. Exceptions to this policy may be considered, if arranged in advance, and the terms must be in writing.
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