A rare autographed draft of Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction will star in Bonhams' June 19 Books & Manuscripts sale.
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The highly important manuscript will lead sales in the New York auction, with a pre-sale valuation of $200,000-300,000. The proclamation highlights Lincoln's forward-thinking attitude to reconstruction following the American civil war and sees the president extending an olive branch to Confederate states.
Despite the Confederate surrender being more than 18 months away, Lincoln showed his confidence in winning the war when he issued his historic Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction on December 8, 1863.
It was in this proclamation that he offered a pardon to all engaged in the rebellion, with the exception of high-ranking officials and leaders, and set in place plans for the country's restoration once the war had ended.
The one and a half page draft statement is sure to attract attention from serious collectors of rare US manuscripts, who will note that the proclamation is handwritten on blue-lined legal folio paper, the same used for the first draft of the Gettysburg address and Lincoln's final speech.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a unique piece of Lincoln memorabilia for devoted collectors. Our fragments of wallpaper originate from the president's bedroom in the only house he ever owned. We also have an 1848 copy of the most important of all American manuscripts, the Declaration of Independence.