Lincoln approves an appointment requested by General McClellan

16. Abraham Lincoln Autograph Endorsement Signed as President. Exceedingly desirable and boldly penned Civil War-dated autograph endorsement as president, signed “A. Lincoln,” penned on the reverse of an LS addressed to President Abraham Lincoln by Major General George B. McClellan, signed “Geo. B. McClellan,” dated August 22, 1861. McClellan’s letter, in part: “I have the honor respectfully to request that, under the authority of the recent Act of Congress providing for additional Aids-de-camp, to a Major General commanding an army in the field, Richard B. Irwin of the District of Columbia may be appointed an Aid-de-camp to myself with the rank of captain.” Lincoln’s endorsement, in full: “Let the Appointment within requested be made. A. Lincoln. Aug. 23, 1861.” Countersigned below by Secretary of War Simon Cameron. In very good to fine condition, with splitting to the folds and almost complete separation to the hinge.

Richard B. Irwin was the great-great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin and served as aide-de-camp to General George B. McClellan and later to General Nathaniel Banks through most of the Civil War. A Wyoming cattle rancher later in life, he authored the 1892 “History of the Nineteenth Army Corps,” and three other books on the Civil War. Most interesting here is that he wrote the book Battles & Leaders of the Civil War: The Removal of McClellan. Starting Bid $1000

President Lincoln writes from the Executive Mansion to Attorney General Edward Bates

18. Abraham Lincoln Autograph Letter Signed as President. ALS signed “A. Lincoln,” one page, 5 x 8, March 27, 1861. Handwritten letter from the “Executive Mansion,” sent to Attorney General Edward Bates. In full: “Senator Foote sends me word that the Vermont delegation desires George Howe to be District Attorney; and C—C. P. Baldwin to be Marshal for Vermont. The initials I can not help. I send them as sent to me. Send me the blank appointments.” In very good to fine condition, with light staining and professional reinforcements to intersecting folds. A scarce, boldly penned autograph letter by Abraham Lincoln. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from JSA.

Both Vermont men in question received their respective appointments: George Howe of Brattleboro served as United States Attorney for the District of Vermont from 1861 to 1864; and Charles C. P. Baldwin was United States Marshal for the District of Vermont from 1861 to 1865. Starting Bid $1000

Sought-after 1865 presidential commission signed by Lincoln and Seward, just six weeks before the assassination plot

17. Abraham Lincoln Document Signed as President. Partly-printed DS as president, one page, 14.75 x 11, February 28, 1865. President Lincoln appoints Edwin S. Condit at “Deputy Postmaster at Centralia, in the State of Illinois.” Neatly signed at the conclusion in ink by President Abraham Lincoln and countersigned by Secretary of State William H. Seward. The white paper seal affixed to the lower left is complete, but cracked at the center. Professionally repaired and restored to near-fine condition.

This significant document dates to just four days prior to President Lincoln’s second inauguration, and just six weeks before his assassination by John Wilkes Booth. Seward would also be targeted in the assassination plot, and was nearly killed by Lewis Powell. A highly desirable, crisply signed Lincoln presidential appointment. Starting Bid $1000

19. U. S. Grant Signature - PSA MINT 9. Civil War–era ink signature, “U. S. Grant, Lt. Gen. U.S.A.,” on an off-white 3 x 1.75 card. In fine condition, with light toning from prior display, easily re-matted out. Encapsulated and graded by PSA/DNA as “MINT 9.” In March 1864, President Lincoln elevated Grant to the rank of lieutenant general, and named him general-inchief of the Armies of the United States. Grant would be elevated to General of the Army on July 25, 1866. Starting Bid $200

20. Rutherford B. Hayes Document Signed as President. Partly-printed vellum DS as president, signed “R. B. Hayes,” one page, 15.25 x 19, March 7, 1879. President Hayes appoints Robert C. Walker as a “Paymaster with the rank of Major in the service of the United States.” Signed at the conclusion by Rutherford B. Hayes and countersigned by Secretary of War George W. McCrary. The embossed blue War Office seal remains affixed to the upper section. Double-matted and framed to an overall size of 22.5 x 28. In fine condition, with the Hayes signature several shades light, but fully legible. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from PSA/ DNA. Starting Bid $200

21. James A. Garfield and Chester A. Arthur 1880 Campaign Bandana. Interesting red, white, and black jugate bandana from the 1880 presidential campaign of James Garfield and Chester A. Arthur, 18.5 x 18, featuring oval portraits of the Republican candidates for president and vice president. Marked in the upper left: “Washington, S. H. Greene & Sons.”. In very good condition, with several small holes, tears, and losses, and fraying along the right edge.

Starting Bid $200

22. Chester A. Arthur Signed Presidential Placecard. Uncommon gilt-edged presidential placecard gilt-embossed with the presidential seal and calligraphically inscribed, “The President,” nicely signed in pencil as president, “Feb. 14, 1884, For Mrs. Willis, Chester A. Arthur.” In fine condition, with toning from prior display and mounting tabs applied to reverse.

Starting Bid $200

23. Benjamin Harrison Letter Signed on Abraham Lincoln. LS signed “Benj. Harrison,” one page, 4.75 x 8, personal letterhead, October 10, 1895. Letter to Osborn H. Oldroyd, one of the first collectors of Lincolnania, thanking him for “the copy of your book ‘Words of Lincoln.’” In part: “I am particularly obliged to you for putting this book into my possession, as I might not otherwise have found it. There are treasures of wisdom and patriotism, and of hope and love in the words of Abraham Lincoln. He had a way of saying things that made us think more highly of our fellow men and more humbly of ourselves.” Affixed to a same-size mount and in very good to fine condition, with light overall soiling. Starting Bid $200

24. Theodore Roosevelt Typed Letter Signed as President. TLS as president, one page, 7 x 8.75, White House letterhead, August 4, 1908. Letter to William Dinwiddie, in full: “I return you that interesting article. To be frank, there is in it much as to which the writer is hopelessly and indeed ludicrously wrong; but with his main thesis—that we should develop a navy, that we should prepare, in order to avert trouble with anyone, and that we should be heartily ashamed of extravagant and boastful conceit, or of wrongdoing other nations—I entirely agree.” President Roosevelt makes a few handwritten corrections to the text. In fine condition, with light edge toning. An interesting letter by President Roosevelt, who had always been an advocate for a strong naval force. Starting Bid $200

26. Theodore Roosevelt

Document Signed as President. Partly-printed

DS as president, one page, 20.75 x 15.75, July 19, 1907. President Roosevelt appoints Richard Herbert Somers as a “Second Lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps in the service of the United States.” Signed beautifully at the conclusion by Theodore Roosevelt and countersigned by Acting Secretary of War Fred C. Ainsworth. Embossed blue War Office seal remains affixed to the lower left corner. Archivally framed and in fine condition, with some scattered tiny stains. Starting Bid $200