BAUMAN RARE BOOKS 46 71LINCOLN, Abraham. Document signed. Washington, January 22, 1862. One leaf, 17 by 13 inches; matted and framed, entire piece measures 23 by 19 inches. $21,000 Civil-War era document signed by President Lincoln and countersigned by Secretary of State William Henry Seward, appointing George S. Gideon to be the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia. There was a George S. Gideon who owned a printing and bookbinding firm that operated its business in DC, including printing the Official Registers of the United States from 1843 to 1851, and who corresponded with Lincoln. Gideon was also an avid sponsor of the Washington and Georgetown Railroad, and served as president of the railroad from 1862 to 1866. Faint fold lines, embossed seal intact. Lincoln’s signature bold. A fine signed document. “A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand” 70LINCOLN, Abraham. Political Debates Between Hon. Abraham Lincoln and Hon. Stephen A. Douglas. Columbus, 1860. Octavo, original brown cloth, custom chemise and clamshell box. $14,500 First edition, first issue, of the most famous debates in American history, the event that transformed Lincoln into a national presidential candidate—a lovely unrestored copy. Running as a little-known candidate for the Illinois senatorship in 1858, Lincoln challenged incumbent and Democratic leader Stephen Douglas to a series of debates. The result was a memorable chain of lively arguments in front of cheering crowds. Though Lincoln lost the senatorial race, “he began collecting a scrapbook of his best speeches, particularly those from the just-concluded campaign against Douglas, for possible inclusion in a book… Somewhat surprisingly for an attorney, Lincoln did not seek Douglas’ permission to publish a book of their combined speeches, although Douglas was later given the last-minute opportunity—he declined—to make corrections to his own remarks” (Morris, 121). Sabin 41156. Contemporary owner signature. Scattered foxing and toning to text, as often; a few markings to cloth, gilt bright, near-fine. An exceptional unrestored copy. Signed By Abraham Lincoln: Appointment For Commissioner Of Police For The District Of Columbia, 1862
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDg3OTM=