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Auction: 314 - Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 1107

Lincoln, Abraham Sixteenth President of the United States (1809-65, served from 1861); a humble Illinois lawyer, his remarkable speeches and debates together with his unexpected political shrewdness gained him the 1860 Republican nomination; his victory led ultimately to the Secession Crisis and the US Civil War; in meeting that challenge while showing profound humanity he has come to be regarded as the greatest American President. Fascinating and intriguing 2-line Legal Note Signed "Lincoln & Herndon p.d.", on blue bond paper, 7-3/4" x 2", circa November 1850. Two lines on verso "…in said declaration alledged[sic]; and of this the defendants put themselves upon the country…" all in Lincoln´s hand and signed by him for his law office, "Lincoln & Herndon p.d." This particular case, Gross v. Calhoun & Barrett, is listed on The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln website. Calhoun and Barrett owed Gross some money on an account. Gross sued Calhoun and Barrett in an action of debt to recover the money. Calhoun and Barrett retained Lincoln & Herndon and pleaded not guilty. The parties reached an agreement in which Calhoun agreed to pay the debt. The court ruled for Gross and was awarded $291.53 for damages. Lincoln had filed on behalf of the defendants in this case on November 29, 1850. This legal document fragment looks to have been the opening citation of the brief and the closing end of the case brief. On the face of the paper, the plantiff and defendents are listed at the left-hand side of page with the words "In Debt" noted. The "G" in Gross´ name is slightly cut off, leading one to deduce that there was more to this document at one point.Lot also includes an envelope bearing the legendary book dealer "George D. Smith" / 70 Wall Street / New York" printed address. Hand-written in pencil on the face "2 lines autograph / signed Lincoln & Herndon"; dated "6/17/20" in pencil and annotated "79- / K" beneath. Along with a small piece of paper with a description of the above document - possibly from a George Smith price list or auction listing. George Smith was a fixture in the New York Times in the 1900s-1910s for his many book acquisitions and priceless collections that he acquired in his travels. In a NY Times article from May of 1912, George Smith acquired and exhibited the Lamon Lincolniana Collection in his NY showrooms. Of note in the collection is the existence of several Lincoln legal documents, including nine legal briefs. Mr. Smith died in March of 1920 from heart disease in his own book shop surrounded by the books he loved.William Herndon was an interesting figure in his own right. He was Lincoln´s law partner in Illinois. At some point in the late 1870s, Herndon began a correspondence with an Indiana-born Lincoln admirer named Jesse W. Weik. By this time of his life, a growing number of Lincoln enthusiasts had written to Herndon seeking any type of Lincoln memorabilia, especially personal effects and autographs, and Herndon often obliged free of charge. When he supplied the young Weik with a Lincoln autograph from one of the stacks of legal documents in his possession, the grateful young man continued writing the old man and a friendship began that would result in the completion of the long-delayed Lincoln biography.

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$2,000