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Abraham Lincoln

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:16,000.00 - 18,000.00 USD
Abraham Lincoln

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Auction Date:2016 Nov 09 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Exceptional twice-signed ADS, signed in the third person, “Abraham Lincoln,” and at the conclusion, “A. Lincoln,” one page both sides, 7.75 x 12.5, October 3, 1856. Lengthy sworn affidavit concerning a divorce case, penned entirely in Lincoln’s hand, filed in the “Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, Second Grand Division.” In part: “Abraham Lincoln, being first duly sworn, states on oath that…a decree of Divorce was rendered by said court, dissolving the bands of matrimony theretofore existing between Franklin C. Gray, and Mary Anna Gray; that afterwards the said Franklin C. Gray went through the forms and ceremonies of a legal marriage with one Matilda Caroline French, which, affiant supposes, was a valid marriage, if the decree of Divorce aforesaid, was and is valid; that still later, the said Franklin C. Gray departed this life…one John Cook and said Matilda C. Gray have been appointed administrators of his estate in New-York; and also, one C. J. Eaton, has been appointed…administrator of his estate in California…After the death of said Franklin C. Gray, the said Matilda Caroline French, or Matilda Caroline Gray, was delivered of a child, which in the course of nature, must have been begotten after her supposed marriage with said Franklin C. Gray, and while they cohabited, as husband and wife, and that he left no other legitimate child, so far as affiant knows, or believes; that said child is still living, a female and a minor, and that its name is ‘Florence Franklin C. Gray.’ Affiant further states that said Mary Anna Gray wishes to prosecute a writ of error to reverse said decree of Divorce, and wishes to make parties, defendants thereto, the said Matilda Carolina French, otherwise Matilda Caroline Gray, Florence Franklin C. Gray, John Cooke, and C. J. Eaton, all of whom reside out of the State of Illinois.” Custom framed in museum-quality materials with windows on both sides, to an overall size of 15.5 x 21. In fine condition, with professional repairs to small edge separations at folds, some show-through from writing to opposing sides, and a chip to one corner tip (affecting no writing).

In 1851, Mary Anna Gray had sued Franklin Gray for divorce on the grounds of adultery and, after he failed to appear, the court granted the divorce and awarded her $5,000 in alimony. Following Franklin Gray’s death, she retained Lincoln and Herndon and filed a writ of error in the Illinois Supreme Court with a goal of overturning the divorce—apparently, she hoped to receive a more lucrative arrangement from his estate. Although the court overruled the defendants’ motion to dismiss the writ, the case was ultimately dismissed after Mary Anna Gray failed to join the issue on the plea. Such lengthy handwritten documents from Lincoln are very scarce, especially those boasting his full signature—they are usually simply signed with the name of his firm. An ideal, intriguing Lincoln document from his days as a ‘prairie lawyer.’