FINE 1860 ABRAHAM LINCOLN AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED, WRITTEN JUST 75 DAYS AFTER SECURING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT

LINCOLN, Abraham. Autograph letter signed. Springfield, Ill.: Aug. 1, 1860. One leaf of wove paper (5-1/4 by 4-1/4 inches), handwritten on recto for one page, window-mounted in heavier stock, matted and framed with an engraved portrait, entire item measures 15 by 20 inches.

Fine Abraham Lincoln autograph letter signed, penned entirely by Lincoln only 75 days after the Republican National Convention, where he secured the nomination to represent the relatively new Republican Party in the presidential campaign which he went on to win.

The letter reads in full: "Springfield, Ill, Aug 1, 1860. J.G. Sano, Esq. My dear Sir, Yours of the 28th is duly received; and, in answer, let me say I expect to be constantly here for some months, and shall be happy to see yourself and friend at any time, as well as all other gentlemen who may honor me with a call—Yours very truly, A. Lincoln." This very well-preserved autograph letter signed was composed not long after Lincoln secured the Republican nomination that led to his Presidency. In 1856, Lincoln had abandoned the defunct Whig Party and joined the new Republican Party. This new national party included many former Whigs who opposed slavery—referred to as "Conscience Whigs"—Free-Soilers, and antislavery Democrats. The antislavery Republicans were dedicated to the repeal of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the prevention of the further extension of slavery westward. The new party also demanded the immediate admission of Kansas into the Union as a free state, denounced the Ostend Manifesto, which called for the annexation of Cuba (where slavery was legal), and called for federal support of internal improvements—especially the construction of a railroad to the Pacific.

In an attempt to win the Republican nomination, Lincoln prepared heavily in advance and understood that he would have to take a high moral ground to undermine the temptation of some Republicans to vote for Douglas as a means of dividing the national Democratic Party. To this end, Lincoln's campaign began with his famous "House Divided" speech delivered in Springfield, Illinois, on June 16, 1858. Recognized as one of the most important speeches in American history, his powerful message warned that the crisis over slavery would not be resolved until the nation stood either completely slave-owning or totally free. The 1860 Republican National Convention was held in Illinois May 16-18, 1860. The 1860 Republican platform consisted of 17 declarations of principle, of which ten dealt directly with the issues of free soil principles, slavery, the Fugitive Slave Act, and the preservation of the Union. This item was bound into an extra-illustrated copy of the "History of the City of New York" circa 1872, in the possession of Emery E. Childs, and while the book—expanded to 21 volumes—has passed through several hands, this particular autograph letter has not been on the market since it was bound in, a happy circumstance that has also maintained this rare letter in excellent condition.

Fine condition. A well-preserved Lincoln autograph letter, boldly signed, penned shortly after becoming the Republican candidate for President. Beautifully framed.