Abraham Lincoln
16th President of the United States and Attorney-at-Law · Politics & U.S. History - Legal Documents
Republican Party / Lincoln and Herndon Law Firm
Era
Antebellum Period - June 1857
Item Type
Handwritten legal document / Court petition
Condition
Good to Very Good condition for a mid-19th-century legal document, showing normal folds, slight paper toning, minor edge wear, and stable iron gall ink preservation.
Rarity
Scarce and highly desirable, as legal documents wholly associated with the Lincoln and Herndon law practice are museum-grade historical artifacts.
Overall Assessment
A magnificent, historically significant mid-19th-century legal document carrying the partnership endorsement of Lincoln and Herndon, representing a prime artifact from Lincoln's pre-presidential legal career.
Authenticity Assessment
Likely authentic based on period iron gall ink, manuscript structure, and consistent signature characteristics matching known 1850s legal documents from the Lincoln and Herndon firm.
Signature Style
Formal legal signature reading 'Lincoln and Herndon p.p.' in the hand of William Herndon or Abraham Lincoln's endorsement 'A. Lincoln', exhibiting classic 19th-century legal cursive and distinct angular letter forms.
Signature Characteristics
Strong baseline, sharp angular strokes, consistent pen pressure appropriate for a steel nib dip pen, and characteristic 1850s legal signature morphology.
Ink & Medium
Period-correct iron gall ink on laid legal manuscript paper, showing characteristic brown oxidation over time.
Item Description
A two-page handwritten legal petition for mandamus filed in the Supreme Court of Illinois, June Term 1857 (The People ex rel. The Auditor of Illinois), featuring legal arguments regarding state debt and signed by the law firm of Lincoln and Herndon.
Estimated Value
$25,000 to $50,000+ depending on complete archival provenance and verification of Lincoln's exact handwriting contribution within the text.
Comparison to Known Examples
Matches standard exemplars of the Lincoln & Herndon law partnership filings from the Illinois Supreme Court during the late 1850s.
Authentication Tips
Examine the iron gall ink penetration into the paper fibers, compare letter formations against verified Lincoln and Herndon legal briefs in state archives, and check for period paper watermarks.
Certification Recommendation
PSA/DNA or JSA specializing in historical manuscripts, alongside authentication by recognized Lincoln scholars and manuscript dealers.
Red Flags
No significant red flags observed; the manuscript exhibits expected aging, iron gall ink behavior, and structural consistency for 1857 legal papers.
Provenance Notes
Essential to trace back through reputable auction houses, institutional deaccessions, or documented estate collections with historical paper trail documentation.
Historical Context
Dating to June 1857, this document captures Abraham Lincoln actively practicing law in Illinois just a few years before his historic election to the presidency, highlighting his pre-political professional career.
Market Trends
Presidential manuscripts and legal documents associated with Abraham Lincoln remain exceptionally strong and stable investments in the high-end historical memorabilia market.
Investment Potential
Excellent long-term investment potential due to the permanent fixed supply of authentic Lincoln-associated legal manuscripts and perennial high demand from major collectors and institutions.
Similar Autographs
Other Lincoln-signed legal briefs, Springfield court documents, political correspondence, and signed documents from his presidential administration.
Display & Preservation
Requires museum-quality framing using UV-filtering acrylic, acid-free rag matting, and controlled environmental conditions with low light exposure and stable humidity.
Interesting Facts
Lincoln practiced law for nearly 24 years, appearing before the Illinois Supreme Court over 400 times. His partnership with William Herndon lasted from 1843 until Lincoln's presidency in 1861.
Notes
Handwritten legal document