LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 June Civil War Grand Format Auction #663  / 

74369

Manuscript Copy of the 13th Amendment

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Militaria Start Price:11,250.00 USD Estimated At:45,000.00 - 65,000.00 USD
Manuscript Copy of the 13th Amendment
<B>Manuscript Copy of the 13th Amendment.</B></I> The 13th Amendment abolishing slavery was approved by the United States Senate in April 1864 and by the U.S. House of Representatives January 31, 1865. The historic amendment was voted for by 38 senators and 119 congressmen, sending the amendment to the states for ratification which occurred later in the year. With the country still at war, the Sanitary Commissions of the United States asked for the senators and representatives to sign handwritten copies of the amendment in order to raise money for the troops in the field. This 13th amendment is one of only about a dozen such handwritten documents signed by the senators and representatives along with Vice President Hannibal Hamlin signing as President of the Senate. The signature of Abraham Lincoln at the top center was added at a later date by another hand, although Lincoln did sign about a dozen of these amendments before Congress passed a resolution stating that Lincoln should no longer sign the amendment since it was not a law, only a document to be passed on to the states for ratification. In turn, Lincoln stopped signing them; however, these very few documents bearing these historic signatures have survived, this particular copy being descended through the Crandall family of Rhode Island, the ancestor being Henri Crandall, the Adjutant for Rhode Island during the Civil War. <BR><BR>Measuring 14” x 19½”, this document is an extremely rare and important document of historical significance. A Lincoln-signed copy recently sold at auction for over $1.8 million. The ink on this document is still vibrant and dark, the signatures bold and inspiring, especially those of Vice President Hamlin and Speaker of the House Schuyler Colfax. At 10” and 12½” down the paper there are tears that have not been repaired, but the single sheet has been laid down on linen paper to stabilize the document. <BR><BR>The amendment was drafted to constitutionally allow “neither slavery or involuntary servitude”. It is believed that perhaps only three of these documents remain in private hands. The remaining copies are in institutions around the United States. This is a rare opportunity to acquire one of the most important documents in American history.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Requires 3rd Party Shipping (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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