Abraham Lincoln, Autograph Document, Signed Twice, Legal

Description

Offering an Abraham Lincoln Legal Document. Lincoln has signed this item twice.In this original document, Lincoln for the plaintiff first asks the clerk of the court to “issue process in the above submitted case remanded to the next term of said court” and Lincoln then adds his law firm name with John Todd Stuart.  Lincoln names this a “Tresspass (sic) on the case upon promises” with “Damages $2,000.”

From the Papers of Abraham Lincoln: “David Bailey and Company gave Keyes (sic) a promissory note for $1,135.56 but failed to pay.  Keyes retained Stuart and Lincoln and sued David Bailey and Co. in an action of assumpsit to recover the debt.  David Bailey and Co. pleaded in abatement and claimed that Keyes’s first name was Rockwell and not Robert, as the declaration indicated.  Keyes later dismissed the case.”

Just below, naming the Tazwell Circuit Court, Lincoln dates and signs a promise to “enter myself security for costs in this cause and acknowledge myself bound to pay…all costs which may accrue in this action…in pursuant of the laws of this state.”

This document is notable in two regards.  First, many times such a document has been unfortunately sliced in two, producing two items that might be sold separately for more money.  Second, besides leaving a form of his earliest signatures – small and leaning to the right – he also has written a most unusual “A,” that is extravagant in its elegant lead in, and one which we have not encountered before.  Yet this early writing does exhibit some of the properties that later defined his signatures:  two dots after the “A” and its three-tier manner.

Interestingly, what was really on Lincoln’s mind at this moment was revealed a mere two days later, when he wrote to Mrs. Orville H. Browning on April 1st details of his courtship of Mary Owens:  “He describes his determination to propose and have matters settled – her refusal three times, which mortified him in ‘a hundred different ways….’”

Professionally repaired – for its time – along some folds and replacing (then) new paper where the wax seal was torn off.

Lincoln, Abraham. Autograph Document, Signed twice “Stuart & Lincoln” and “A. Lincoln.”  Tazwell Circuit Court, Springfield:  29 March 1838. “Robert W. Keys vs David Bailey, (et al).”  Folio; 1p. + address leaf to the Clerk of the court in “Tremont, Ills.” w/ a Springfield postal round stamp; very small remnant of its original wax seal.