SIGNED BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN: APPOINTMENT FOR CONSUL TO SINGAPORE, 1861
LINCOLN, Abraham. Document signed. Washington, November 4, 1861. One leaf, 17 by 13 inches, printed on one side and finished by hand, with embossed seal. Handsomely matted and framed, entire piece measures 21 by 17 inches. $21,000.
Civil-War era document signed by President Lincoln and countersigned by Acting Secretary of State Frederick W. Seward, appointing John Clark as Consul to Singapore.
The document reads, in part: "The President of the United States of America, to all who shall see these presents greeting. Know ye, that, reposing special trust and confidence in the abilities & integrity of John S. Clark, of New York, I do appoint him Consul of the United States of America at Singapore; and such other parts as shall be nearer thereto than to the residence of any other Consul or Vice Consul of the United States, within the same allegiance, and do authorize and empower him to have and to hold the said office, and to exercise and enjoy all the rights, pre-eminences, privileges, and authorities, to the same… And I do hereby enjoin all Captains, Masters and Commanders of Ships and other Vessels, armed or unarmed, sailing under the Flag of the said States, as well as all other of their Citizens, to acknowledge & consider him, the said John. S. Clark, accordingly. And I do hereby pray and request Her Britannic Majesty, Her Governors and Officers, to permit the said John S. Clark, fully and peaceably to enjoy and exercise the said office… Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, the fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the Eighty-sixth. By the President: [signed] Abraham Lincoln. [signed] F.W. Seward Acting Secretary of State." When William H. Seward was appointed Secretary of State in 1861, his son Frederick W. Seward—who has countersigned this document—became Assistant Secretary of State in charge of consular service under Lincoln and then Andrew Johnson. He served in the position until 1869.
Very faint offsetting from folds. Embossed seal intact, signature bold and clear. Fine condition.